SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants who waived their cases or were held for court were ordered to appear for plea court Aug. 13 at Northumberland County Courthouse, Sunbury, where they can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.
n Barbara R. Somers, 33, of 913 W. Mulberry St., Coal Township, waived to court two counts each of retail theft and defiant trespass relating to incidents at Wal-Mart Supercenter along Route 61 in Coal Township.
Somers was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell with stealing $40.24 worth of items from Wal-Mart on April 29. She also was charged by Purcell with stealing a gas grill valued at $94 from Wal-Mart on April 15.
n Ray Allen Long, 52, of 3807 Lower Road, Shamokin, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of driving an all-terrain vehicle on a street or highway relating to an April 29 incident on Route 225 near Upper Road in Zerbe Township.
The charges were filed by Trooper Nicholas Berger of state police at Stonington.
n Darren A. Fancher, 41, of 1891 Klingerstown Road, Herndon, waived to court charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting arrest, accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle or property, failure to drive in a single lane, a turning violation, careless driving, failure to give information and render aid, failure to give immediate notice of an accident and failure to wear a seat belt.
The charges were filed by Trooper Samuel Edwards in connection with a June 23 hit-and-run accident on Route 225 in front of the White Owl Inn near Greenwood Street in Zerbe Township that resulted in injuries.
n Kyle Hoffman, 18, of 1010 N. Franklin St., Shamokin, waived to court charges of theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and loitering and prowling at night.
Hoffman was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Jarrod Scandle with stealing a four-wheeler ATV from the rear of a pickup truck parked at 914 N. Vine St. on May 29. He also is accused of spraypainting the vehicle in an attempt to disguise it.
n Damian M. Dietrich, 29, of 1 N. Grant St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and criminal conspiracy and was ordered to pay $300 in fines plus costs, make restitution in the amount of $153.70 and placed on one year consecutive probation. Dietrich was given credit for six months previously served in jail with immediate parole.
Additional charges of flight to avoid apprehension and public drunkenness were withdrawn.
n Eric T. Stuczynski, 24, of 423 Main St., Ranshaw, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and a stop sign violation relating to a March 18 traffic stop in the 300 block of Clay Street in Ranshaw.
The charges were filed by Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Henrich.
n Matthew Kiesel, 20, of 303 Webster St., Ranshaw, waived to court charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property.
Kiesel was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell with stealing $1,500 worth of PS3 video games, a hand-held game unit, $80 in rolled coins and approximately $150 in change from 301 Webster St., Ranshaw, between May 21 and June 6.
n Robert A. Montefusco, 44, of Shamokin, was held for court on three counts of disorderly conduct relating to a Sept. 13 disturbance in the 800 block of North Washington Street in which he allegedly shouted obscenities at females and males standing in the street.
The charges were filed by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II.
n Aaron Bressi, 31, of 1727 Pulaski Ave., Coal Township, was held for court on charges of simple assault and harassment involving a Nov. 24 disturbance at 140 Lower Road, Excelsior, in which he allegedly assaulted his 6-year-old son.
The charges were filed by Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell.
n Shane R. Picarella, 22, of 151 N. Grant St., Shamokin, waived to court a charge of flight to avoid apprehension relating to a March 14 incident in which he fled from police after being taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
The charge was filed by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II.
Picarella was wanted by Shamokin police on warrants for burglary, theft by unlawful taking and retail theft when he was taken into custody March 14 after being spotted by Special Officer Robert Searls at his former residence at 69 E. Independence St. Picarella was transported to the city police station, where he was detained in a cell to await incarceration at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury on the warrants. While at the station, Picarella complained of a heart condition, prompting police to summon AREA Services Ambulance personnel.
After treating Picarella at the station, emergency medical personnel transported him to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was undergoing medical treatment when he left the hospital. No guard was with Picarella at the time, because although he was in police custody, he was not under arrest.
After eluding authorities for about two months with the assistance of two siblings, who were consequently charged with harboring a fugitive, police received credible information that Picarella was back at his former residence on East Independence Street on May 17. Officers searched the building and found Picarella hiding under a bed on the third floor and took him into custody.