James R. Ferrier
ORWIGSBURG - A South Manheim Township man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges he unlawfully possessed improvised explosive devices and a shotgun in November at his residence.
Tony R. Weiss, 26, of 1651 Summer Hill Road, Auburn, faces 11 counts of possession of weapons of mass destruction and 12 of prohibited possession an offensive weapon.
Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over those charges for court after Weiss waived his right to a hearing.
State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Weiss possessed 11 IEDs and a shotgun without a serial number between 11 a.m. and noon Nov. 26.
Police said they went to assist sheriff's deputies in evicting Weiss and found him lying on the sawed-off shotgun.
While searching Weiss, they found nine of the IEDs, seven miniature blue ones and two bamboo-packed ones, on him and the other two IEDs, both hand-packed shotgun shell ones, on a kitchen table, police said.
The state police Bomb Unit took the IEDs to the state Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations for a controlled disposal, according to police.
Weiss is free on $50,00 unsecured bail pending further court action.
Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge's dispositions of the matters included:
Francis M. Betz Jr., 22, of 49 Hunter St., Tamaqua - driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, careless driving charge withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.
Keith M. Harris, 52, of 506 Greenwood Ave., Pottsville; DUI, driving under suspension-DUI related, failure to carry license, disregarding traffic lane, careless driving, reckless driving and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
William J. Higgins, 19, of 133 W. Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven - possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Eric C. Hummel, 26, of 722 Mine St., Pottsville - possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
John J. Kachmar, 48, of 21 Church St., Barnesville - DUI; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Terry Kunkle, 51, of 65 River Road, Tamaqua; DUI; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Jason L. Moyer, 32, of 440 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville; DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Ashley N. Renninger, 28, of 315 Chestnut St., Saint Clair - fleeing or eluding police, DUI, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, violation of duty of driver in approach of emergency vehicle, driving without a license, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to drive at a safe speed, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, failure to drive on the right side of the road, stop sign violation, failure to obey traffic control devices, improper turning movements and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Brianna J. Schaeffer, 20, of 64 Cherry St., Cressona - theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Virginia D. Scheipe, 32, of 230 N. Berne St., Schuylkill Haven - possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Eric Williams, 41, of 343 S. Third St., Lehighton - theft; charge withdrawn.
Rebecca Margerum
ELIZABETHVILLE - A Williamstown man charged with assaulting a 3 1/2-month-old girl during a fight with his girlfriend at their home on Nov. 6 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum.
John H. Lee, 24, of 121 E. Broad St., Williamstown, was arrested by state police Trooper Kyle Kinney of the Lykens station and charged with simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and endangering the welfare of children.
By waiving his right to a hearing, Lee will have to answer to all of the charges against him in Dauphin County Court.
Kinney charged Lee with getting into an argument with Nicole L. Maurer, 28, during which he grabbed the back of the neck of her daughter, Cloe Olivia-Renee Lee, and began to squeeze her.
Maurer, police said, was holding the child and was unable to get her away from Lee without hurting her.
During the argument, Kinney said Lee threatened to cut the child up in pieces and drop the pieces in multiple states or sell the child to "any guy that would have his way with her."
In a prior incident, Maurer reported that in October Lee held the child over the top of the stairs in their home and threatened to hurt or kill her, Kinney said.
Other court cases included:
Justin R. Underkoffler, 26, of 120 Maple Lane, Apt. 10, Williamstown - held for court: public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
Anthony J. Kilker
SHENANDOAH - A Mahanoy city woman charged with stealing from Turkey Hill Minit Mart in Shenandoah while employed there in September had charges against her held to court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.
Diana M. Smeltz, 823 E. Centre St., was arrested by Shenandoah police Patrolman John Buchinsky and charged with one count each of theft and receiving stolen property. Kilker determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered both offenses held for Schuylkill County Court.
Buchinsky charged Smeltz with taking between $300 and $350 by not ringing up customers' cigarettes or lottery tickets and keeping the money to pay for her medication.
Buchinsky said that when customers would purchase lottery tickets or cigarettes, Smeltz would void the transaction, not ring up the items and then wait on the next customer.
Other court cases included:
Marc A. Galan, 24, of 147 Mount Olive Blvd., Shenandoah - withdrawn: burglary. Waived for court: criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Eric Mumaw, 26, of 157 W. Muir Ave., Hazleton - waived for court: DUI, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and DUI-high rate.
Connie Sanders, 40, LKA 305 E. Penn St., Shenandoah - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Crystal Wentworth, 28, of 120 N. Bower St., Shenandoah - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Donald H. Reese III, 44, of 223 E. Centre St., Apt. 9, Shenandoah - waived for court: DUI and DUI-controlled substance.
Jason J. Zulkowski, 38, of 325 W. Columbus St., Shenandoah - waived for court: escape, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and pedestrian failure to yield.
Patrick S. Gulden, 30, of 209 Pioneer Road, Shenandoah, or Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville - waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
Michael M. Medina, 25, of 27 N. Ferguson St., Shenandoah - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Mark Steward, 19, of 404 W. Penn St., Shenandoah - waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, purchase of alcohol by a minor and open containers.
Craig T. Taylor, 23, of 247 S. Wylam St., Apt. B, Frackville - withdrawn: false identification to law enforcement.