Carol A. Pankake
TREMONT - A Pine Grove Township man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after a judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to support eight of nine charges stemming from an alleged series of sex-related incidents last year.
Charles J. Yoder Sr., 61, of 226 Suedberg Road, Pine Grove, faces four counts of indecent assault, two of unlawful contact with a minor and one each of corruption of minors and indecent exposure.
After a preliminary hearing, Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake ordered those charges held for court. She dismissed a second count of corruption of minors.
State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Yoder with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old child several times between June 1 and Sept. 1, 2012, in Pine Grove Township. The child was the only witness who testified at Thursday's hearing.
Pankake allowed Yoder to remain free on $1,500 unsecured bail pending further court action.
Other defendants whose cases Pankake considered on Thursday, the charges against each one and the judge's dispositions of the matters included:
Dylan A. Dallago, 21, of 212 N. Pine St., Tremont; possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Daniel R. Frew, 47, of 36 High St., Pottsville; two counts of defiant trespass and one of trespass by motor vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Magdalena Mendoza, 47, of 205 Emett St., Scranton; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Charles G. Nelson, 27, of 25 Bendigo St., Tower City; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving; charges withdrawn.
John M. Nush, 41, of 247 S. Fourth St., Minersville; two counts of defiant trespass and one each of DUI and trespass by motor vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, DUI charge withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.
James K. Reiley
A 52-year-old Pottsville man charged with starting a fire at his apartment in the city on July 24 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.
Richard Lee Lerch of 629 N. Second St. was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman Richard Pugh and charged with three felony counts of arson, one felony count each of causing a catastrophe, risking a catastrophe and reckless burning or exploding and a summary count of disorderly conduct.
By waiving his right to a hearing, Lerch will now have to answer to all seven charges in Schuylkill County Court.
Pugh said police and firefighters were called to the apartment for a fire, where he spoke to a man who said he saw smoke and entered the apartment to help but saw Pugh sitting on a couch "watching the fire burn from the top of the electric stove."
The right front burner of the stove was on, causing items in the area to catch fire including socks, clothing, paper, cigarette packs, plastic bags and dog feces.
When asked by the man who came to help what he was doing, Lerch said, "I'm fine. I'm just burning papers on the stove," the officer said.
The man then put the fire out, removed the items from the stove and asked Lerch to exit his apartment but he refused, Pugh said.
When interviewed later at City Hall, Pugh said Lerch told him he could not remember anything about the fire.
Other court cases included:
Alberto Rodriguez, 38, of 412 Euclid Ave., Temple - held for court: burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
Archie M. Moore, 31, who has no known address - withdrawn: burglary. Waived for court: burglary, simple assault, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
James I. Crafton, 54, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville - withdrawn: simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Waived for court: disorderly conduct.
Barbara J. Mancini, 57, of 573 Wigard Ave., Philadelphia - held for court: assisting suicide.