James R. Ferrier
ORWIGSBURG - An Auburn man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after a judge ruled July 1 that prosecutors presented enough evidence to support seven charges resulting from his alleged assault of a Schuylkill Haven woman in May in her apartment.
Justin D. Reber, 21, of 2833 Fair Road, faces charges of aggravated assault, criminal trespass, unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, stalking, simple assault and harassment.
After a preliminary hearing, Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier ordered those charges held for the county court. He dismissed a charge of burglary.
Reber remains in prison in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bail pending further court action.
Schuylkill Haven borough police alleged Reber forced his way into the 35 E. Main St. apartment of Caitlin Killian at 4:15 p.m. May 29.
Once inside, Reber locked the door and burned Killian with a lit cigarette in her arms, neck and head, police said.
Killian had told Reber before the incident that she did not want to see or talk with him, according to police.
Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on July 1, the charges against each one and the judge's dispositions of the matters included:
Geri L. Andreola, 53, of 35 Spring St., Freeland; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Caleb A. Baver, 26, of 202 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven; driving under the influence, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, disregarding the traffic lane, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and stop sign violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Clarence W. Donton, 35, of 132 Albert Blvd., Pottsville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
John B. Dreher, 51, of 1614 W. Market St., Pottsville; DUI, driving under suspension-DUI related, failure to keep right, disregarding the traffic lane and careless driving; charges held for court after preliminary hearing at which Dreher did not appear. Ferrier asked the county court to issue a bench warrant for Dreher.
John H. Fry, 43, of 3 Beech St., Cressona; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Jeremy C. Hess, 28, of 35 N. Morris St., Saint Clair; two counts each of simple assault and harassment and one of possession of a small amount of marijuana; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Virginia D. Scheipe, 33, of 230 N. Berne St., Schuylkill Haven; possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Albert G. Troutman, 62, of 3 Beech St., Cressona; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
In other district court action, a Saint Clair man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges he broke into his father's and stepmother's Wayne Township home in June.
Charles E. Wernert II, 34, of 227 Arnot St., faces charges of criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.
Ferrier bound over those charges for the county court. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of burglary against Wernert.
State police at Schuylkill Haven allege Wernert broke into the 507 Long Run Drive home of Charles E. and Eleanor K. Wernert about 10:55 a.m. June 2.
Police said Wernert shattered a storm window while removing it in order to try to break into the house.
Once inside the house, Wernert stole an antique clock, a laptop computer and software, according to police. The stolen items had a total value of $1,450, police said.
When questioned, Wernert admitted breaking into the house, police said.
Wernert is in the county prison in lieu of $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:
James L. Bohr, 36, of 78 Rock Road Apt. C, Pine Grove; corruption of minors; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Christian M. Curry, 20, of 83 Valley Road, Tamaqua; recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing or eluding police, driving without a license, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and driving unregistered vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Kim M. Gallagher-Moss, 50, of 517 Coyote Drive, Lake Wynonah, Auburn; two counts of procuring drug by forgery and one of procuring drug by fraud; right to preliminary hearing waived, procuring drug by fraud charge withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.
Ligia M. Martinez, 27, of 123 W. Blaine St., McAdoo; false statement under penalty and materially false written statement; charges held for court after preliminary hearing at which defendant did not appear. Ferrier asked the county court to issue a bench warrant for Martinez.
Jeffrey D. Roberts, 20, of 629 Lee St., Orwigsburg; two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and one each of prohibited possession of offensive weapon and recklessly endangering another person; right to preliminary hearing waived, recklessly endangering another person and one count of possession of a controlled substance withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.
Andrew D. Rumberger, 24, of 26 E. Penn St., Schuylkill Haven; driving under the influence, driving under suspension, altered or forged documents or plates, operating vehicle without certificate of inspection, operating vehicle without registration, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and sat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Christina E. Hale
FRACKVILLE - A Locustdale man charged with masturbating in front of a woman in Frackville on June 3 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale.
Kevin S. Kerner, 26, of 57 Middle St., was arrested by Frackville police Patrolman Christopher Hand and charged with open lewdness, disorderly conduct and harassment.
By waiving his right to a hearing, Kerner will have to answer to all three charges against him in Schuylkill County Court.
Hand charged Kerner with an incident about 9:30 p.m. in the area of 550 Oak St. where he was seen acting in a lewd way.
Hand said a woman reported Kerner being outside of his vehicle in his underwear and after telling her to wait, exposed himself and began a lewd act.
Other court cases included:
Amy Lynn Hoover, 38, of Box 383, 303 Hobart St., Gordon; withdrawn: driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and reckless driving. Waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and disregard for single traffic lane.
Harold R. Baney III, 30, of 541 W. Oak St., Frackville; dismissed: simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and harassment.
Derek M. Johnston, 29, of 311 W. Market St., Pottsville; withdrawn: burglary and criminal trespass. Waived for court: harassment and disorderly conduct.
Brandon S. Moyer, 26, of 404 Pine Hill St., Apt. B, Minersville; held for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, abandoning a vehicle on public or private property, driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without a license, failure to keep right, driving at an unsafe speed, improper signaling and failure to stop at a red signal.
David A. Plachko
PORT CARBON - A New Philadelphia man charged with assaulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend on April 21 at his 174 Evans St. home on waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Joseph Bernitsky III, 51, was arrested by state police Trooper Joseph Cazonie of the Frackville station and charged with one count each of terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.
By waiving his right to a hearing, Bernitsky will have to answer to all three charges in Schuylkill County Court.
Cazonie charged Bernitsky with throwing Sylvia S. Kanish to the floor, causing her to hit her head, throwing her onto a sofa and then telling her he would slit her throat if she called police.
Other court cases included:
Renee Gibas, 42, of 4 Wiggan St., New Philadelphia; held for court: receiving stolen property and retail theft.
Mark A. Koles Jr., 21, of 398 Fourth St., Port Carbon; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, disregard for single traffic lane, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving.
Keven M. Phelan, 26, of 51 Westwood St., Minersville; withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.
Edward C. Snukis, 50, of 561 Fernwood Ave., Saint Clair; withdrawn: simple assault.
Jessica M. Sheppo, 33, of 219 S. Morris St., Saint Clair; held for court: theft of leased property.
Kenneth Neifert, 28, of 20 Valley St., New Philadelphia; waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.
Katie Lee Snyder, 30, of 100 Eagleville Road, Eagleville; held for court: retail theft.
Denise Jenkins, 34, of 412 W. Penn St., Shenandoah; waived for court: retail theft.
Christ John D. Natale, 40, of 109 S. Second St., Minersville; dismissed: knowingly or intentionally manufacturing or distributing a designer drug.
Stephanie Woegens, 32, of 123 Victory Lane, Milford; held for court: false reports.
John R. Miller, 47, of 19 Pike St., Port Carbon; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property and theft.
Shaun M. Felty, 26, of 19 S. Third St., Apt. 5, Minersville; withdrawn: aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. Waived for court: possession of a weapon, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Saphire K. Bohr, 20, of 86 Rock Road, Pine Grove; waived for court: retail theft.
Andrew P. Beaver, 44, of 305 E. Savory St., Pottsville; held for court: theft by deception.
Jason J. Pesavage, 34, of 85 Main St., Upper Shaft, Shenandoah; waived for court: retail theft.
Jeffrey M. McAnaney, 25, of 41 York Farm Road, Pottsville; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.