What District Attorney Christine A. Holman believes to be an average criminal term begins today in Schuylkill County Court.
“We have eight jury” and seven nonjury trials scheduled, Holman said Friday. Three of those trials are slated to start today.
That represents a major and surprisingly large decrease from the situation at the start of pretrial conferences on March 24, she said.
“We started off with 40” trials at those conferences, Holman said.
She said guilty pleas, continuances and bench warrants usually remove about 50 percent of those prospective trials, but not 80 percent.
“That would be high,” according to Holman.
Holman said the number of jury trials remains relatively constant over time.
In 2015, there were 51 jury trials in the county court, she said. That was only slightly more than in 2012 through 2014, when there were 42, 46 and 44, respectively, Holman said.
The three defendants slated to go on trial today are Tyler R. McNulty, 24, of Schuylkill Haven; Amanda M. Morris, 26, of Saint Clair; and Brian R. Specht, 47, of Pottsville.
McNulty faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance. Potstville police allege he committed his crimes on July 1, 2015, in the city.
President Judge William E. Baldwin will preside over McNulty’s trial. Deputy Assistant District Attoreny Robert I. Lipkin will prosecute the case, while Frederick J. Fanelli, Eric M. Prock and James J. Amato, Pottsville, will defend McNulty.
Morris is charged with retail theft, which Saint Clair police alleged she committed on May 31, 2015, in the borough.
First Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley will prosecute the case against Morris, while Assistant Public Defender Paul G. Domalakes will defend her. Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin will preside over the trial.
Specht is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension-DUI related. Mahanoy City police alleged he committed his crimes on May 15, 2015, in the borough.
Judge Jacqueline L. Russell will preside over the trial. Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith will prosecute the case against Specht, while Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins will defend him.
The criminal term will run through April 12.
Defendant: Tyler R. McNulty
Age: 24
Residence: Schuylkill Haven
Charges: Delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance