James Landron Jr. did not arrive at Schuylkill County Court on time Wednesday for his guilty plea, and will have a lighter wallet and a longer record because of it.
Landron, 31, of Reading, must pay a $100 fine after President Judge William E. Baldwin found him guilty of contempt of court for showing up 25 minutes late for the 1:30 p.m. hearing.
"This is not an invitation to dinner," an irate Baldwin said. "You held up this court for 25 minutes."
Landron tried to tell Baldwin that he had a court document informing him that the hearing was scheduled for 1:40 p.m. However, neither he nor his lawyer, James G. Conville, Schuylkill Haven, could produce such a document, and Baldwin said guilty pleas have been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. for many years.
After fining Landron, Baldwin accepted his guilty plea to charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and Landron, Baldwin sentenced the defendant to serve eight to 23 months in prison and pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $302 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Baldwin made the sentence effective at 9 a.m. March 27 and warned Landron not to show up late for that.
West Mahanoy Township police charged Landron with possessing heroin and baggies on Aug. 7, 2011, in the township.Defendant: James Landron Jr.
Age: 31
Residence: Reading
Crimes committed: Possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, contempt of court
