A Crawford County woman is headed back to state prison after being sentenced Feb. 20 in Schuylkill County Court.
Diane Bretzius, 34, of Centerville, must serve four to 12 months in a state correctional institution, plus two additional years on probation, under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes' sentence.
Domalakes imposed the sentence after revoking Bretzuis' probation for a second time.
Furthermore, Domalakes made the sentence consecutive to the Crawford County one Bretzius already is serving, meaning she will spend nine months to 36 months less one day behind state prison bars.
"You have been a poor candidate for supervision," Domalakes told a tearful Bretzius in rejecting her request for more inpatient rehabilitation and probation.
Bretzius originally pleaded guilty on May 22, 2008, to two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one each of fleeing or eluding police, reckless driving, stop sign violation and restraint systems violation. At that time, Domalakes sentenced her to spend two years on probation and pay costs, $350 in fines, a $50 bench warrant fee and $1,045.74 restitution, amounts she still must pay under the terms of Thursday's sentence.
Pottsville police had charged Bretzius with committing those crimes on Sept. 18, 2007, in the city.
Police said Bretzius was driving east when she reportedly swerved to avoid slowing traffic and struck the porch of a home at 1205 W. Market St. Bretzius, who was accompanied by her children, ages 2 and 4, then fled the scene before being stopped on Elk Avenue, police said.
Domalakes first revoked Bretzius' probation on March 19, 2010. At that time, Domalakes sentenced her to spend 18 to 36 months in a state correctional institution and five years consecutive probation.
"I know what I did was wrong," Bretzius admitted while testifying Thursday. She also said she has drug and alcohol problems.
Also in the county court, prosecutors withdrew charges against eight defendants.
Kiara A. Dardi, 23, of Hamburg, had been charged with two counts of simple assault. State police at Schuylkill Haven had alleged she committed those assaults on May 9, 2013.
Corinne L. Dietrich, 38, of Orwigsburg, had been charged with driving under the influence and driving under suspension. Minersville police had alleged she was DUI on Jan. 19, 2013, in the borough.
Joseph Etherington, 31, of Mount Carbon, had been charged with criminal mischief. Pottsville police had alleged he committed that crime on Feb. 17, 2013, in the city.
Lewis W. Jones, 72, of Ringtown, had been charged with criminal mischief. Ringtown police had alleged he committed that crime on Jan. 4, 2013, in the city.
Joshua E. Kaylor, 24, of Shenandoah, had been charged with four counts of robbery and two each of terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Shenandoah police had alleged he committed those crimes on Feb. 6, 2013, in the borough.
Derek P. Kroh, 33, of Pottsville, had been charged with simple assault and harassment. Pottsville police had alleged he committed those crimes on April 15, 2013, in the city.
Amy M. Merenda, 27, of Barnesville, had been charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness in one case and retail theft, receiving stolen property and defiant trespass in the other. Pottsville police had alleged she committed the first two crimes on Feb. 3, 2013, in the city, while Saint Clair police alleged she committed the last three on Feb. 23, 2013, in the borough.
Tasha L. Richards, 37, of Pottsville, had been charged with theft and receiving stolen property. Pottsville police had alleged she committed those crimes on May 3, 2013, in the city.
In each case, President Judge William E. Baldwin signed an order allowing prosecutors to drop the charges and ordering the defendant to pay the costs.