The trial of a Shenandoah man charged with firing a gun into an occupied house in March in the borough is one of the highlights of a busy criminal court term scheduled to begin today in Schuylkill County Court.
James C. Stevens, 21, faces 12 counts of simple assault, six each of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, three of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and one of carrying a firearm without a license.
Stevens' trial is one of 15 jury trials slated for the two-week term, Deputy Court Administrator Bruce Heffner said on Friday.
Heffner said 12 juries were picked on Thursday and the other three on Friday.
"Twelve ... is the most we ever picked in a day," Heffner said. "We moved along."
A spokeswoman for District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon said there are six nonjury, or bench, trials scheduled for the term.
Shenandoah police have alleged that Stevens pulled a gun from his waistband and fired three shots into the house at 313 S. West St. about 10 p.m. March 27.
Police said they found three .40-caliber shell casings on the road outside the house.
According to police, they arrested Stevens the day after the incident. During a search of the defendant's property, a .40-caliber Star handgun and a loaded magazine were found wrapped in a white T-shirt pushed under a fence, and another loaded magazine also was found in the area, police said.
Assistant District Attorney Douglas J. Taglieri will prosecute the case, while Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins is representing Stevens. The trial, over which President Judge William E. Baldwin will preside, is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. today. James C. Stevens
· Age: 21
· Residence: Shenandoah
· Charges: 12 counts of simple assault, six each of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, three of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and one of carrying a firearm without a license