SHAMOKIN - Two friends arraigned Thursday morning on felony drug-related offenses were chastised by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III for their alleged involvement in selling cocaine and heroin.
During their back-to-back arraignments involving separate incidents, defendants Darryl L. Kashner Jr., 26, of 615 N. Shamokin St., Room 4, Shamokin, and Jarred S. Derck, 28, of 1034 W. Mahanoy St., Trevorton, were told by Gembic, "The drug profession is the most dishonorable business. Nobody is loyal. You guys were born and raised here and come from good families. But you are helping destroy yourselves and your families while bringing down the community by selling drugs."
Kashner, who was previously charged in five criminal complaints filed by Coal Township and Shamokin police with multiple drug-related offenses involving the delivery of cocaine and heroin, was arraigned on additional charges relating to five new complaints filed by local police. The new charges relate to incidents that occurred in May, June and August.
The total of 10 criminal complaints filed against Kashner represent the most issued against one defendant at Gembic's office during his 12-plus years on the bench.
Derck was charged by Shamokin Patrolman William Miner with delivery of heroin, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is accused of delivering nine bags of heroin to a confidential informant for $200 and possessing a hypodermic needle and other commonly used items for ingesting heroin in the east end of the city at 3:34 p.m. Saturday.
The arraignments began at 10:45 a.m. and lasted about 30 minutes.
'A train wreck'
When Kashner pleaded with the judge to release him on supervised bail, Gembic responded, "No way. Don't waste your time even thinking about bail. You are a train wreck."
Kashner, who agreed with Gembic's description, stated, "I knew this was coming. I don't know what to say. I'm sick about it. But can't you still help me out? I won't do anything if I get out. I didn't kill anybody. I regret it now, but I guess I'm screwed."
Gembic set Kashner's bail at $20,000 on each criminal complaint and he was recommitted to the county jail, where he has been held on $100,000 cash bail since his initial arrest on cocaine and heroin offenses last week.
Derck, who didn't seem to care what Gembic set his bail at, said, "This is bull---. What's my set-up? I quit selling and started using about six months ago and I wouldn't snitch on nobody."
He later told the judge, "I'm sorry John. I didn't mean to be ignorant."
Gembic set Derck's bail at $20,000 cash and he was remanded to the county jail, where he was incarcerated on a probation violation.
Defendants shackled
Both defendants had their arms and legs shackled during their arraignments, which were attended by Miner, Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan, Coal Township Police Chief William Carpenter, Coal Township Patrolman Terry Ketchem Jr., Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano and state constable Glenn Masser.
The five new criminal complaints filed against Kashner involve cocaine offenses.
He is charged by Brennan and Ralpho Township Officer Christopher Grow with possessing and delivering 10 grams of cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility relating to an Aug. 14 incident at the intersection of Bear Valley Road and Route 125 in Coal Township.
Kashner is charged by Brennan with possessing and delivering cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility involving a May 4 incident in the west end of Coal Township.
The defendant is charged by Brennan and Primerano with possessing and delivering crack cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with a May 16 incident in Coal Township and Shamokin.
He is charged by Brennan with possessing and delivering cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility involving a June 6 incident in the west end of Coal Township.
He also is charged by Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn with possession of crack cocaine, possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia relating to a May 26 incident in a wooded area southeast of Burnside.
Earlier this week, Primerano filed four criminal complaints against Kashner, charging him with multiple felony drug-related charges for delivering cocaine and heroin.
Kashner and Jordan Scicchitano, 18, of 339 Beech St., Coal Township, were charged last week by Coal Township police with delivering 70 packets of heroin to a confidential informant Aug. 28 near Ranshaw.
Scicchitano remains incarcerated at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.