by peter e. bortner
Already sitting in a state prison cell, Samuel T. Steffie will not have to spend more time behind bars after being sentenced Monday in Schuylkill County Court for breaking into a vacant Mahanoy Township house.
Steffie, 42, of Schuylkill Haven, was sentenced to spend six to 12 months in a state correctional institution on a charge of criminal trespass by Judge Jacqueline L. Russell.
However, pursuant to a plea agreement between prosecutors and Steffie, Russell made the sentence concurrent to the one the defendant already is serving at SCI/Camp Hill. Since Steffie is an inmate at SCI/Camp Hill, he participated in the sentencing hearing by videoconference.
Russell also sentenced Steffie to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, perform 40 hours community service, have no contact with the property and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
Steffie pleaded guilty June 20 to criminal trespass, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of burglary.
Mahanoy Township police charged Steffie with breaking into the house Oct. 9.
Russell did not order Steffie to pay restitution as part of his sentence, which upset Christine Hanlon, the property owner.
"It was not investigated properly," Hanlon told Russell. "He is a career criminal."
District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon said that claim was incorrect.
"I cannot prove the damages she said Mr. Steffie did," Byrnes-Noon said.
Mahanoy Township police Patrolman Shannon A. Tietsworth testified there was insufficient evidence to prove Steffie damaged water lines, doors, ceilings, insulation or wiring in the house.
"I'm very familiar with that area," he said.
Monday's sentencing was the fourth for Steffie this year.
On March 18, Judge Charles M. Miller sentenced him to serve 16 to 23 months behind bars on charges of receiving stolen property and prohibited sale of veterans markers.
Miller made that prison term consecutive to one of eight to 24 months that Russell had imposed on March 5 on two counts of selling or furnishing liquor to minors.
Russell had made her sentence concurrent with one of two to 12 months also imposed on March 5 by Judge James P. Goodman on a charge of criminal mischief.