A Northumberland County man charged with kidnapping and assaulting his then-wife in September 2011 in Girardville will pay costs, fines and restitution after being sentenced on two summary charges resulting from the incident.
However, Kyle C. Kent, 32, of Marion Heights, still faces seven more serious charges stemming from the incident,
Under the terms of an order filed Monday, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin sentenced Kent, on charges of criminal mischief and harassment, to pay costs, $600 in fines and $259.58 restitution to Ronald T. Krick.
Dolbin, who president over Kent's two-day trial, had found the defendant guilty of those two charges on June 5, the day a jury hearing the case acquitted Kent of charges of burglary and terroristic threats, but could not reach a verdict on the remaining charges, including aggravated assault, kidnapping, criminal trespass, stalking, unlawful restraint, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
Because the jury did not render any verdict on those seven charges, prosecutors can retry him on those without violating the constitutional ban on double jeopardy. The next trial term during which they can retry Kent will be the one starting Aug. 27 and concluding Sept. 5.
In the meantime, Kent is in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail.
State police at Frackville alleged that the defendant entered Krick's house at 334 E. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville, where Melissa Kent was staying, between 6 and 11 p.m. Sept. 18, 2011. Kyle Kent punched Melissa Kent, dragged her outside, forced her into a sport utility vehicle, hit her more, drove her to a dirt road near Aristes, slammed her head off the road several times and forced her back into the SUV, police said.
Kyle Kent and Melissa Kent are no longer married.