James R. Ferrier
ORWIGSBURG - A Schuylkill Haven man faces Schuylkill County Court action after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in connection with charges stemming from an incident in June at his residence.
Christopher J. Whalen, 32, of 60 Schumacher Ave., must defend against charges of prohibited possession of firearm, possession of prohibited offensive weapon and resisting arrest.
Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over those charges for the county court. Prosecutors withdrew two additional counts of prohibited possession of firearm.
Schuylkill Haven borough police allege that Whalen possessed a 12-gauge shotgun at 3;12 p.m. June 22. Police said Whalen has a prior conviction for a drug-related offense and cannot legally possess the shotgun.
Also, police allege Whalen resisted arrest at the scene to such an extent that he had to be Tasered.
Whalen is free on $10,000 unsecured 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:
Aaron B. Ahner, 31, of 1785 Deer Lane, Lehighton - theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Edward D. Lecher Sr., 51, of 518 E. Hancock St., Saint Clair - access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Steven Ryan, 35, of 2 E. Adamsdale Road, Schuylkill Haven - 10 counts each of forgery, receiving stolen property and access device fraud; right to preliminary hearing waived, receiving stolen property charges bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.
Brenden Searle, 25, of 25 Center Ave., Schuylkill Haven - possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, possession of drug paraphernalia charge bound over for court, possession of a small amount of marijuana charge withdrawn.
Stephen J. Bayer
TAMAQUA - A 23-year-old Tamaqua man charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a home on Centre Street on May 25 had charges against him held to court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.
Jonathan Cameron, 27 Centre St., was arrested by Tamaqua police Patrolman Anthony Stanell and charged with aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and unlawful restraint.
Bayer determined the Commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all three charges against Cameron held for Schuylkill County Court.
Stanell charged Cameron with grabbing a 19-year-old woman, pushing her onto a couch where he assaulted her sexually while she was telling him to stop and get away.
The woman was eventually able to get up and called for her friends who came and began to beat Cameron, forcing him to run out the door, Stanell said.
Other court cases included:
James E. Gilson, 18, of 223 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua - waived for court: conspiracy.
Thomas H. Mace, 65, of 532 Fairview St., Tamaqua - waived for court: DUI and DUI-highest rate.
Francis M. Betz, 22, of 49 Hunter St., Tamaqua - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, careless driving and improper child restraints.
Jasmin L. McCarroll, 27, of 23 N. Greenwood St., Tamaqua - dismissed: false reports.
Jeanette L. Hadesty, 32, of 362 W. Kline Ave., Coaldale - dismissed: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
Amy A. Minzola, 38, of 244 Hope St., Hazle Township - waived for court: exceeding the speed limit, DUI-controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Heather Loar, 26, of 300 E. Ridge St., Coaldale - withdrawn: obstructing the administration of law. Waived for court: hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Christopher A. Reedy, 25, of 345 Coal St., Port Carbon - waived for court: retail theft, receiving stolen property and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.
Ashley Weirich, 19, of 104 Schuylkill Ave., Elwood Apartments, Apt. 7, Tamaqua - waived for court: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.
Andrea Scintilla, 42, of R116 W. Blaine St., McAdoo - waived for court: forgery, access device issued to another person, identity theft, false report, receiving stolen property and possessing an access device knowing it is counterfeit or altered.
Michael J. Merenda, 28, of 30 Bruno Ave., McAdoo - withdrawn: aggravated assault. Waived for court: simple assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and public drunkenness.
Brandon M. Hosler, 19, of 1317 Shady Lane, Tamaqua - held for court: conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
Keith D. Yarnell, 24, of 212 Centre St., Tamaqua - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
David A. Plachko
PORT CARBON - A 20-year-old Pine Grove man who threatened Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley during a video arraignment May 15 waived his right to a preliminary hearing in district court.
Corey J. Mlynek, 47 Swopes Valley Road, was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman Charles Webber and charged with one count of terroristic threats. By waiving his right to a hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Mlynek will now have to answer to the charge in Schuylkill County Court.
Webber said Mlynek was at Schuylkill County Prison where he was being arraigned by Reiley on charges filed by Pine Grove police.
During the arraignment, Reiley set bail at $40,000 after which Mlynek began to curse him and told the judge "he made a big mistake" and "you are dead," Webber said.
The comments by Mlynek were head by both Pine Grove Police officers and Schuylkill County Prison corrections officers who were in the room, Webber said.
Other court cases included:
Alex E. Jiminez, 18, of 64 Main St., Pottsville - held for court: defiant trespass.
Breanne Newton, 29, of 217 Schuylkill Ave., Pottsville - withdrawn: burglary. Waived for court: theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, forgery and access device issued to another person.
Ciera M. Zvorsky, 26, of 70 Coal St., Apt. 2, Port Carbon - held for court: retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
Elizabeth Stine, 52, of 81 Spring St., Pottsville - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and careless driving.
Robert J. Link, 18, of 107 S. Centre St., Pottsville - withdrawn: misdemeanor retail theft, reduced to summary retail theft.
Michele D. Seidel, 33, of 238 Valley St., New Philadelphia - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Renee Gibas, 41, of 4 Wiggan St., New Philadelphia - waived for court: retail theft.
Matthew Bachman, 27, of 305 Washington St., Tamaqua - waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, fraudulent use or removal of a registration plate, driving an unregistered vehicle, allowing illegal use or a plate or card, driving without insurance, disregard for single traffic lane, exceeding the speed limit, careless driving, reckless driving and failure to use safety belts.