A state prison inmate admitted March 7 in Schuylkill County Court that he assaulted another prisoner in January 2012.
Junior Guthrie, 25, of Houtzdale, pleaded guilty to simple assault, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of harassment.
Judge Charles M. Miller accepted Guthrie's plea, and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution and pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account. Miller made the sentence concurrent with Guthrie's current prison term of 25 to 50 years for various crimes committed in Fayette County.
"There is a penalty to be paid today," Miller told Guthrie.
State police at Frackville had charged Guthrie with assaulting Robert Lebo Jr. on Jan. 29, 2012, at SCI/Frackville. Assistant District Attorney Michael A. O'Pake said Lebo was Guthrie's cellmate.
Guthrie is an inmate at SCI/Houtzdale, Clearfield County, and the hearing was conducted by videoconference.
In another March 7 case, Miller sentenced Christopher J. Fox, 22, of Schuylkill Haven, to spend two years in the state intermediate punishment program, which will combine prison time with substance abuse treatment, and pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.
Fox pleaded guilty Nov. 14, 2012, to two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and one of possession of a controlled substance. Schuylkill County detectives alleged he committed the crimes in five separate incidents in June and July 2012.
Fox is an inmate at SCI/Camp Hill, Cumberland County, and the hearing was conducted by videoconference.
Also on March 7, Miller placed Joseph Pangonis, 66, of Pottsville, on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and a $50 CJEA payment, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Miller found Pangonis guilty on Aug. 29, 2012, of possession of drug paraphernalia after a one-day nonjury trial.
Pottsville police had charged Pangonis with possessing drug paraphernalia on March 14, 2011, in the city.
In other recent county court action, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:
Franklin R. Steffie, 27, of Shenandoah - two counts of theft and one each of criminal trespass, criminal mischief, forgery, fleeing or eluding police, driving under suspension and resisting arrest; four to eight years in a state correctional institution, $200 fine, $150 in CJEA payments and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew three counts of accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property, two each of receiving stolen property and stop sign violation and one each of criminal mischief, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving without lights, careless driving and driving the wrong way.
All defendants who pleaded guilty must pay costs as a part of their sentences.
In court action from March 8, a Schuylkill Haven man will be in the state prison system for two years after being sentenced for two separate incidents.
Devin D. Drey, 22, must spend two years in the state intermediate punishment program, which combines prison time with substance abuse treatment, under the terms of Miller's sentence.
"You're going to have to be the one to have the courage and the fortitude to complete the program and stay away from the drugs," Miller told Drey.
"I plan to," Drey answered.
Miller also sentenced Drey to pay costs, $200 in payments to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 in payments to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, $240 restitution to the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and $226 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
Drey pleaded guilty on Nov. 14, 2012, to one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and two each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Schuylkill County detectives charged Drey with selling drugs and possessing drugs and paraphernalia on May 11, 2012, while Schuylkill Haven borough police charged him with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on July 19, 2012, in the borough.
Drey already is at State Correctional Institution/Camp Hill, Cumberland County, and Miller conducted the hearing by videoconference.
In another March 8 case, Jason Dahm, 35, of Tuscarora, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Miller accepted Dahm's plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in a state correctional institution concurrent with his current sentence and pay costs, $400 in SAEF payments, $100 in CJEA payments and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.
Rush Township police charged Dahm with possessing heroin and a syringe on April 12, 2012, in the township.
"Did you do these things?" Miller asked Dahm.
"Yes, I did, Your Honor," Dahm replied.
Dahm is an inmate at SCI/Pittsburgh, and Miller conducted the hearing by videoconference.