While he faces many other state and federal charges, Tysheed L. Hargrove will spend at least one year behind state prison bars after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he possessed a gun in February in Tamaqua without a license to do so.
Hargrove, 19, address not known, pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm without a license, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of receiving stolen property.
President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted the plea and sentenced Hargrove to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
Tamaqua police had charged Hargrove with possessing the gun Feb. 5 in the borough.
Hargrove's legal troubles are only just beginning.
U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith announced on Sept. 12 that he will prosecute Hargrove on 11 counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, and one count of brandishing a firearm. Smith also announced that Hargrove's alleged accomplice, Jose Nunez, 19, of Hazleton, will face numerous charges in connection with several of the alleged robberies.
Smith said that since the alleged crimes were committed from Dec. 21, 2011, through Feb. 5 in multiple jurisdictions - Hazleton, Hazle Township and Foster Township in Luzerne County, McAdoo, Tamaqua and Rush Township in Schuylkill County, and Kidder Township in Carbon County - it makes sense to have the men face all the charges against them at one time.
Other defendants who pleaded guilty Wednesday before Baldwin, the crimes they admitted committing and the sentences the judge imposed included:
Richard M. Bonney, 34, of Hazle Township; two counts each of retail theft and driving under suspension and one of fleeing or eluding police; six to 23 months in prison, 12 months consecutive probation, $1,200 in fines and $1,332 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew three counts of receiving stolen property and one each of driving under suspension, failure to drive at a safe speed and improper display of plate.
Sherise Morrison, 30, of Pottsville; simple assault; three months to 215 days in prison with immediate release.
Leonard D. Peiffer, 58, of Pine Grove; simple assault and resisting arrest; time served to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, $100 fine and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors dropped a charge of harassment.
Jessica Pfeil, 26, of Pottsville; two counts of theft and one of criminal trespass; six to 23 months in prison, 12 months consecutive probation, $100 in CJEA payments, $3,336.36 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of receiving stolen property and one each of burglary, conspiracy and criminal mischief.
Vadim S. Polyakov, 35, of Schuylkill Haven; criminal mischief and disorderly conduct; time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole, $25 fine and $1,050 restitution. Prosecutors dropped a charge of resisting arrest.
Jessica A. Rudy, 26, of Lansford; improper furnishing of drug-free urine; 12 months probation consecutive to current sentence and $50 CJEA payment.
Eric R. Shappell, 27, of Pottsville; hindering apprehension; two weeks to 23 months in prison and $50 CJEA payment, with sentence effective at 9 a.m. Nov. 26.
John M. Stutzman, 32, of Valley View; three counts of possession of a controlled substance and two of possession of drug paraphernalia; sentencing postponed.
Steven M. Wetzel, 39, of Pine Grove; failure to verify address or photograph as required; three to six years in a state correctional institution, $300 fine and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
In other county court action, a Tamaqua man will not spend more time in prison after admitting Thursday that he committed a theft in February in his hometown.
Justin M. Neff, 27, pleaded guilty to theft and receiving stolen property.
Judge James P. Goodman accepted Neff's plea and sentenced him to spend 23 months on probation concurrent to his current sentence and pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.
Tamaqua police had charged Neff with stealing a Playstation 3 system and a television set on Feb. 6 from a neighbor.
Neff already is an inmate at State Correctional Institution/Camp Hill, serving a sentence in another case, and the hearing was conducted by videoconference.
Also in the county court, Judge Charles M. Miller on Wednesday accepted guilty pleas from, and imposed the indicated sentences on, these defendants:
William C. Deiter, 37, of Pottsville; driving under the influence and disregarding traffic lane; 48 hours to six months in prison, $525 in fines, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of careless driving and seat belt violation.
James D. Dotterer, 53, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI; 48 hours to six months in prison, $500 fine, $100 SAEF payment and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.
Charles E. Kimmel Jr., 21, of Pine Grove; DUI, disregarding traffic lane and failure to drive at a safe speed; 72 hours to six months in prison, $1,050 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 20 hours community service, with sentence effective at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 26.
Michael R. Klouser, 41, of Hegins; DUI and driving under suspension; one to five years in a state correctional institution, $2,700 in fines and a $300 SAEF payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.
Zachary D. Shaw, 22, of Auburn; DUI and disregarding traffic lane; 72 hours to six months in prison, $1,025 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $250 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.
Dennis J. Wiederhold, 22, of Minersville; possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Shauna N. Ziegler, 31, of Allentown; no contest plea to possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension; 12 months probation, $500 fine, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of speeding.
Melanie M. Zimmerman, 28, of Minersville; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; time served to 12 months in prison, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and 10 hours community service.
All defendants who were sentenced must pay costs as a part of their sentences.