SUNBURY - Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest agreed Tuesday to separate the four arson cases involving James L. Neidlinger Jr. and set a pre-trial conference for 1:15 p.m. Monday, March 3.
County conflicts counsel John Broda requested the cases be ruled on separately rather than consolidated.
Neidlinger, 22, of Shamokin, who has been incarcerated since Jan. 29, 2013, at Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $250,000 cash bail, is charged by Shamokin Patrolman and Fire Investigator Raymond Siko II with intentionally setting fires at 717 N. Shamokin St. on Sept. 5, the former Hardshell Cafe and an adjacent building in the 400 block of North Shamokin Street on Jan. 24, and a triple home in the 600 block of East Sunbury Street near Franklin Street on Jan. 28.
Broda said assistant district attorney Michael Toomey plans to offer his client a plea agreement.