Joseph F. Janowski III is headed to state prison for what prosecutors said was his assault on his mother in September 2013 in Pottsville.
Janowski, 39, of Mahanoy Plane, did not react as President Judge William E. Baldwin sentenced him to serve four to 10 years in a state correctional institution.
"I believe the deadly weapon enhancement does apply," Baldwin said in explaining the sentence, which also requires Janowski to pay costs and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
On June 5, the day he was to go on trial, Janowski pleaded guilty to prohibited possession of a firearm and no contest to terroristic threats, simple assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Pottsville police said Janowski was arguing with his mother, Cynthia Janowski, at 11:22 p.m. Sept. 2, 2013, when he broke the screen door of her 18 S. 22nd St. home and began choking her and threatening to kill her.
Police said he left the home but returned with a pistol and pointed it at his mother's neck, again threatening to kill her. A juvenile was also present during the incident, police said.
Police said they later received confirmation through a national database that Joseph Janowski is a convicted felon and not legally permitted to possess any firearms. After obtaining a search warrant, city police entered Joseph Janowski's property at 14 S. 22nd St. and recovered a Kimber .45 caliber pistol, several other firearms, ammunition and other supplies.
The defendant's father, also named Joseph Janowski, testified his son's battle with drugs contributed greatly to the situation.
"My son has had problems most of his adult life with drug problems" and needs treatment, said the elder Janowski, a former Pottsville police officer. "There was always a lot of peer pressure on my son."
By pleading no contest to the four charges, the defendant did not admit he committed those crimes, but offered no defense to them, acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if he had pleaded or been found guilty of them. By pleading guilty to the firearm charge, the defendant admitted committing that crime.Defendant: Joseph F. Janowski III
Age: 39
Residence: Mahanoy Plane
Plea: Guilty to prohibited possession of firearm and no contest to terroristic threats, simple assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person
Prison sentence: Four to 10 years in a state correctional institution