by peter e. bortner
Prosecutors alleged John A. Pino led police on a high-speed chase in August 2013 following a theft at Wal-Mart in Saint Clair, and they will try to prove it at his trial, which is set to begin at 9 a.m. today in Schuylkill County Court.
The jury trial of Pino, 70, of Shenandoah, is one of 14 scheduled for the June criminal court term, which also begins today, Deputy Court Administrator Bruce Heffner said Friday, his last day on the job before his retirement.
Pino is charged with retail theft in one case and eight counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault, six of recklessly endangering another person, four each of careless driving and disregarding traffic lanes, three of improper turning movements, two each of violation of limitations of driving on the left side of the road, unsafe pass on the left, failure to stop and give information and accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, and one each of resisting arrest, fleeing or eluding police, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, improper backing up, reckless driving and failure to drive at a safe speed.
Saint Clair police charged Pino with committing the theft on Aug. 26, 2013, while state police at Frackville charged him with committing his other crimes on the same date.
State police said they were on the lookout for Pino's sport utility vehicle after the theft, and they saw him driving north on Interstate 81 between Exits 124 (Route 61) and 131 (Route 54).
Instead of stopping, Pino exited I-81 onto Route 54 east and then turned around at the Ryan Township Fire Company to travel back toward the interstate, according to police.
With state and local officers in pursuit, Pino drove into the lanes of oncoming traffic on Route 54 and continued onto White Owl Drive in Mahanoy Township just outside Mahanoy City, police said. Police said they forced Pino's SUV off the road, where it became stuck.
After refusing to get out of his vehicle and trying to get it unstuck, Pino was shot and taken into custody, police said.
First Assistant District Attorney Maria T. Casey will prosecute the case, while Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins will defend Pino. President Judge William E. Baldwin will preside over the case.
Heffner, who is being replaced by current Chief Probation Officer John Richmond, said the jury selection process has become smoother in recent years, including an earlier starting time.
"I've had tremendous cooperation from the attorneys," said Heffner, who has held his position for approximately 24 years and has worked for the county since December 1977.
He also said changes that Baldwin instituted, including improvements to the trial list and pre-trial conferences, have helped streamline jury selection. Defendant: John A. Pino
Age: 70
Residence: Shenandoah
Charges: Eight counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault, six of recklessly endangering another person, four each of careless driving and disregarding traffic lane, three of improper turning movements, two each of violation of limitations of driving on the left side of the road, unsafe pass on the left, failure to stop and give information and accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, and one each of resisting arrest, fleeing or eluding police, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, improper backing up, reckless driving, failure to drive at a safe speed and retail theft