A Shenandoah man admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he falsely identified himself to borough police in September 2015.
Michael P. Lutz, 25, who had been scheduled to go on trial Wednesday morning before a jury, instead pleaded guilty to false identification to law enforcement. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and harassment.
Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin, who had been scheduled to preside over Lutz’s trial, instead accepted his plea, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and said he would schedule the defendant’s sentencing at a later date.
Shenandoah police alleged Lutz falsely identified himself on Sept. 19, 2015, in the borough.
Also on Wednesday, Senior Judge D. Michael Stine dismissed two charges of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom, against Gregorio Flores, 35, of Allentown.
Tamaqua police had filed both charges against Flores, in each case alleging he violated a protection from abuse order in the borough. Police said the first incident occurred on Oct. 31, 2015, while the second occurred on Jan. 19.
In another Wednesday case, Tom A. Starrett, 50, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Stine sentenced him to pay costs and a $300 fine.
Pottsville police charged Starrett with violating a PFA order on Jan. 14 in the city by sending letters to the victim.
“No contact means no contact, directly or indirectly,” Stine warned Starrett.
“I don’t wish her any harm,” Starrett told Stine.
“Then abide by the order,” Stine replied.
Also Wednesday, a Pottsville woman will spend more time on probation instead of in prison after being sentenced for assaulting a man in September 2014 in the city.
Paige M. Hubiak-Reynolds, 33, must spend 24 months on probation, consecutive to her current sentence, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell ruled.
“I know the defendant has an alcohol problem,” Russell said.
Russell also sentenced Hubiak-Reynolds to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $2,890.13 restitution, perform 20 hours community service and undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations.
The defendant pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2015, to simple assault, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of aggravated assault.
Pottsville police charged Hubiak-Reynolds with stabbing a man with a pen on Sept. 23, 2014, in Schuylkill County Prison. The defendant admitted she was reckless, saying she was stabbing herself and the victim tried to stop her.
“I’m sorry for everything,” Hubiak-Reynolds said while apologizing to the victim. “I was not in the right state of mind.”
Hubiak-Reynolds already is an inmate at State Correctional Institution/Cambridge Springs in Crawford County, and Russell conducted Wednesday’s hearing by videoconference.
In a Friday case, a Schuylkill County judge decided a Tamaqua woman possessed drugs and paraphernalia in May 2014 at her residence.
Kelly M. Dalessio, 39, is guilty of one count each of conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and two of possession of a controlled substance, Russell ruled at the end of a one-day nonjury trial.
Russell, who found Dalessio not guilty of a third count of possession of a controlled substance, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation but did not immediately schedule the defendant’s sentencing.
Tamaqua police charged Dalessio with possessing cocaine and a prescription drug, plus paraphernalia, on May 1, 2014, in the borough.
“It appeared like sales of cocaine,” borough police Chief Richard A. Weaver testified about what he found at the residence. He also said the scale found at the scene was a critical piece of evidence.
“There’s no reason to have a digital scale if you’re not dealing,” Weaver said.
Assistant District Attorney Kimm M. Montone prosecuted the case, while Jeffrey M. Markosky, Mahanoy City, represented Dalessio.
Also on Friday in the county court, a jury deliberated less than an hour before finding Wayne V. Kechula, 42, of Shenandoah, guilty of disorderly conduct.
Judge James P. Goodman, who presided over Kechula’s one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation but did not immediately schedule sentencing.
Shenandoah police had charged Kechula, who did not testify or present any other evidence, with creating a public disturbance on May 1, 2015, in front of the One Stop convenience store at Main and Lloyd streets in the borough.
“He just started being in my face,” store owner Falguni Patel testified. “He was loud.”
“Did you try and keep calm with him?” Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith asked Patel.
“I think I was very calm,” Patel replied.
However, Kechula was loud and foul-mouthed, Patel said.
“He said, ‘Go ahead and call the cops,’ ” Patel said.
Shenandoah police Patrolman David J. Stamets Jr., the prosecuting officer, testified the defendant was causing lots of trouble outside Patel’s store.
“The entire time he spoke, he was extremely loud ... extremely arrogant,” Stamets said of the defendant. “He just continued screaming this whole time.”
In his closing argument, Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Kechula’s lawyer, said his client’s actions did not amount to disorderly conduct.
“His intent was irritating, not criminal,” Watkins said of Kechula. “Every argument, every discussion ... is not a criminal act.”
In her closing argument, however, Smith successfully argued that Kechula’s behavior was far worse than irritating.
“Customers came out of the store to protect (Patel),” Smith said. “He was using profanities. He was acting violent. We’ve got a man who will not calm down and will not go away.”