MAHANOY CITY - A Barnesville man, free on bail for drug charges, is back in Schuylkill County Prison, accused of threatening a witness.
Mahanoy City police Patrolman Thomas Rentschler charged Kyle J. Merenda, 19, of 57 Shady Lane, with one felony count each of intimidation of witnesses or victims and retaliation against a witness or victim and one misdemeanor count of terroristic threats.
Merenda was arraigned Monday on the new charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, who set bail at $50,000 straight cash and ordered the man jailed.
Rentschler said Merenda's most recent charges follow him allegedly using Facebook to threaten a confidential informant used during his arrest on prior felony drug charges, also filed by Mahanoy City police.
Rentschler said he was notified June 11 by a witness who was a confidential informant during the drug investigation against Merenda.
The informant reported being contacted on June 7 by Merenda who sent several threatening and intimidating messages.
"I can't wait to see you," the first of several obscenity-laced messages began before threatening violence, warning that the witness would be beaten up by Merenda and others.
Rentschler said the entire message log was turned over to police, and it included a message in which Merenda acknowledged he should not be have contact with the witness.
The officer said that at that time, Merenda was out on bail from a May 19 arrest charging him with felony possession with intent to deliver heroin, 67 bags; misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, 67 bags; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is now scheduled to appear before Kilker in his Shenandoah court on the drug charges at a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Bail at the time of Merenda's arrest in May was set at 10 percent of $75,000 set by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville. At that time, Rentschler said Merenda was jailed but released after bail was posted by professional bondsman John Robinson of Allentown along with realty from David Merenda Sr., 27 Shady Lane, Barnesville.