James R. Ferrier
ORWIGSBURG - A Bethlehem woman is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges resulting from her alleged use of a child's name to set up fraudulent accounts in January.
Abigail E. Fisher, 22, of 1409 Pembroke Road, still faces charges of forgery, access device fraud and identity theft, although prosecutors withdrew charges of criminal use of a communication facility and conspiracy.
Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over those charges for the county court after Fisher waived her right to the hearing.
Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Fisher with forging 15 credit applications at 7:20 a.m. Jan. 31 in the borough.
Police said Fisher used the name of a 2-year-old child for the applications.
When questioned, Fisher admitted opening the accounts, saying she was having a hard time with money and did not think she had tried to open so many accounts.
Fisher is free on $10,000 straight cash 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:
Virginia Y. Bressler, 23, of 365 Route 61 South, Schuylkill Haven - possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Darren Drey, 19, of 57 Center Ave., Schuylkill Haven - possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Amber M. Ebert, 26, of 5 Royann Circle, Hamburg - driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Rodney A. McDonald, 22, of 209 Haven St., Schuylkill Haven - three counts of conspiracy and one each of criminal mischief, loitering and prowling at nighttime and disorderly conduct; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Laurie Ann Rothermel, 49, of 113 Diamond Drive, Hamburg - retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Matthew J. Witherow, 23, of 2956 Fair Road, Auburn - DUI, failure to carry license, disregarding traffic lane, speeding, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, careless driving and reckless driving charges withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.
Daphne L. Zaleskie, 30, of 452 Greenwood Ave., Pottsville - two counts of conspiracy and one each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Rebecca Margerum
ELIZABETHVILLE - A Lykens woman is headed to Dauphin County Court after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on two sets of drug-related charges stemming from separate incidents in December 2013 in her hometown.
Lisa M. Oren, 43, of 606 Main St., faces charges of criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in one case and possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in the other.
Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum bound over all charges for the county court after Oren waived her right to the hearing.
Lykens borough police filed both sets of charges against Oren.
In the first case, they alleged she possessed a salable amount of drugs on Dec. 19, 2013, in the borough. They alleged in the other case she possessed marijuana and paraphernalia on Dec. 20, 2013, also in the borough.
Oren is free on a total of $11,000 unsecured bail, $10,000 in the first case and $1,000 in the second, pending further court action.
Other defendants whose cases Margerum considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge's dispositions of the matters included:
Justin D. Morgan, 30, of 542 Indian Trail Road, Lykens - failure to provide accurate registration information; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Grover C. Stedge Jr., 61, of 114 Steve Lane, Elizabethville - aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors, indecent assault, selling or furnishing liquor to minors and unlawful contact with minor; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.
David A. Plachko
PORT CARBON - A borough man charged with taking cash and making illegal purchases from the company he worked for waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.
David S. Turolism, 35, of 215 First St., was arrested by state police Trooper Chad Smith and charged with 61 felony counts each of theft and theft by deception, 62 felony counts of receiving stolen property and one misdemeanor count of failure to make required disposition of funds.
By waiving his right to a hearing, Turolis will answer to the charges against him in Schuylkill County Court.
Smith said between July 6 and Oct. 31, 2013, Turolis was employed at Dottery's Hearing and Air Condition in West Brunswick Township where he was issued a company American Express credit card for the purpose of making gas purchases and pre-authorized purchases only.
It was determined that Turolis made personal purchases for himself totaling $2,970.10 that were not authorized and failed to submit $145 that was given to him by a customer. The total amount stolen was $3,115.10, Smith said.
Other court action included:
Rashawn C. Ward, 24, of 16 N. Lehigh St., Shenandoah - waived for court: retail theft.
Audrey M. Oswald, 30, of 224 S. Second St., 1st Floor, Saint Clair - held for court: retail theft.
Matthew R. Yacobenas, 41, of 117 Ye Old Hauto Road, Tamaqua - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and careless driving.
Amber Weingard, 19, of 16 N. Lehigh St., Shenandoah - waived for court: retail theft.
Heather L. Reed, 25, of 28 N. Crescent St., Tremont - waived for court: retail theft.
Bly P. Salm, 33, of 229 Brown St., Wilkes-Barre - waived for court: burglary and criminal trespass.
Matthew J. Lazovi, 25, of 402 Sunbury St., Box 566, Minersville - waived for court: furnishing drug-free urine.
Dereck A. Zukoski, 26, of 101 Sunbury St., Apt. 2B, Minersville - dismissed: simple assault and harassment.
Jeffrey M. George, 46, of 550 Pearl St., Apt. 112, Reading - withdrawn: accidents involving death or personal injury, failure to stop and give information or render aid and disregard for single traffic lane.
Ryan L. Wise, 18, of 310 North St., Minersville - dismissed: criminal mischief and harassment.
Thomas L. Unverdorben Jr., 33, of 457 Carbon St., Minersville - waived for court: bad checks.
Aaron M. Williams, 23, of 63 Moonshine Road, Pine Grove - waived for court: retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Amanda L. Dougherty, 30, of 447 North St., Minersville - waived for court: retail theft.
Stephen J. Bayer
TAMAQUA - A Tuscarora man charged with harassing and threatening two people in Tamaqua in August and October appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.
Jason Demarco, 38, of 627 Wyoming St., was arrested by Tamaqua police Patrolman Karl Harig and charged with two counts each of stalking and harassment and one count each of terroristic threats.
Bayer dismissed one count of stalking and held the remaining five offenses for Schuylkill County Court.
Harig charged Demarco entering the property of Frank Krell and his estranged wife, Jennifer Demarco, at 218 Clay St. and removing items from the yard despite not being allowed on the property. He also sent Krell a message saying he will "hunt him down" for yelling at "Jake," the couple's son.
In addition, Harig said that on another occasion, Jennifer Demarco was with her children at a property on Owl Creek Road when Jason Demarco drove by and onto the property and yelled at the woman, calling her names. He also sent the woman text messages in violation of his bail conditions from prior cases that forbid him from threatening or harassing her or Krell, Harig said.
Other court cases included:
Edward Farber Jr., 48, of 5 W. Lehigh St., Summit Hill - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and disregard for single traffic lane.
Barbara L. Figueiredo, 34, of 236 Maffett St., Apt. 2, Plains - waived for court: retail theft, conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property.
Jeremiah R. Sanders, 26, of 2308 West Penn Pike, Andreas - withdrawn: possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ashley M. Matalavage, 20, of 1398 Valley Road, Tamaqua - waived for court: simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief.
Nicholas A. Cusatis, 29, of 627 Tomhicken Road, Box 521, Sugarloaf - waived for court: accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, failure to stop and give information or render aid, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, careless driving and driving without insurance.
Keri M. Balogach, 33, of 39 W. Lehigh St., Coaldale - held for court: bad checks.
Larry Lee Miller, 32, of 215 E. High St., Coaldale - held for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
William C. Manness Jr., 32, of 326 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua - waived for court: defiant trespass, terroristic threats and harassment.
Andrew D. Diamond, 34, of 216 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale - moved to a nontraffic citation: retail theft. Dismissed: receiving stolen property.
Vanessa Linkchorst, 23, of 2210 Water St., Mahanoy Plane - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, careless driving and disregard for single traffic lane.
Marc J. Tita, 33, of 9 Sandbrook Circle, Lehighton - waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, careless driving, reckless driving, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection, misuse of a plate-card, recklessly endangering another person, duties at a stop sign, disorderly conduct and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.
Ryan J. Verbitsky, 23, of 640 N. Laurel St., Hazleton - held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.