David A. Plachko
PORT CARBON - A Schuylkill Haven man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Nov. 29 on charges stemming from an assault in October in Minersville.
Adam Gamrak Jr., 31, of 112 Avenue B, faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and criminal mischief.
Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko bound over those charges for court after Gamrak waived his right to a hearing.
Minersville police charge Gamrak with committing the assault on Oct. 6 in the borough.
Gamrak is in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bail pending further court action.
Other defendants whose cases Plachko considered Nov. 29, the charges against each of them and the judge's dispositions of the matters included:
Randy M. Bruen, 37, of 1432 Bunting St., Pottsville - two counts each of conspiracy, retail theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
David A. Close, 41, of 318 N. Mill St., Saint Clair - simple assault; charge withdrawn.
Adam Coleman, 25, of 234 W. Kline Ave., Lansford - simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Jesse P. Dembinsky, 27, of 243 N. Second St., Saint Clair - aggravated assault and driving under the influence; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Kerrianne P. Hoffman, 26, of 125 E. Grand Ave., Tower City - two counts of retail theft and one each of conspiracy, receiving stolen property and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Dianne L. Ontiveros, 59, of 31 Swatara St., Tamaqua - two counts of retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Ashley Slack, 45, of 740 Sunbury St., Minersville - false, fraudulent or incomplete insurance claim and theft by deception; charges withdrawn.
Brandon Stephens, 25, of 26 W. Bacon St., Pottsville - DUI, disregarding traffic lane, violation of prohibition on text-based communications, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Russell C. Teter, 37, of 42 Westwood St., Minersville - theft, theft of lost property, receiving stolen property and harassment; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.
Michael R. Thomas, 27, of 77 Tiley Road, Ashland - DUI, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Brittany E. Zelinsky, 21, of 335 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City - retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
James R. Ferrier
ORWIGSBURG - A North Manheim Township man who allegedly sold drugs in a restaurant parking lot must defend against four charges stemming from that incident, a judge ruled last Tuesday.
John D. Butz, 32, of 101 Oak Ledge Ave., Sunnyside, Schuylkill Haven, faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance after Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier ordered them held for court following a preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors produced enough evidence at the hearing to support the charges, Ferrier ruled.
Schuylkill County detectives alleged that Butz sold five Oxycodone pills for $150 to a confidential informant about 7:20 p.m. April 26 in the parking lot of the McDonald's Restaurant along Route 61 in North Manheim Township.
Detectives also said that Butz possessed clear plastic baggies at the same time and place.
Butz is free on $5,000 straight cash bail pending further court proceedings.
Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered, the charges against them and the judge's dispositions of the matters included:
Gary P. Forster, 44, of 21 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City - simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Bradley J. Krause, 30, of 22 Coal Mountain Road, Auburn - driving under the influence, careless driving and scattering rubbish; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Shawna Lenker, 19, of 127 W. Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven - possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.
Melvin E. Letcher, 54, of 313 Laurel Road, Orwigsburg - DUI; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.
Timothy Siegfried, 46, of 1051 Howertown Road, Catasauqua - DUI and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.