A Minersville man returned to prison Thursday, and could stay there for more than four years, after a Schuylkill County judge decided he had violated his parole on a driving under the influence charge.
Christ J.D. Natale, 37, must remain in prison until May 8, 2012, before he can apply for parole again, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled.
"Don't get into any more trouble," Dolbin told Natale, who could remain behind bars until July 15, 2016, under the terms of Dolbin's sentence. "Don't be driving around drunk."
Natale originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2007, to DUI and driving under suspension, with prosecutors dropping charges of failure to drive at a safe speed and failure to keep right. At that time, Dolbin sentenced Natale to spend 90 days to five years in prison and pay costs, $2,500 in fines and $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund.
Pottsville police charged Natale was DUI on Dec. 23, 2006, in the city.
Natale admitted violating his parole by having new charges filed against him and failing a drug test, but told Dolbin he does not have a drug or alcohol problem.
"I've been clean for five years," Natale testified, saying that he failed the drug test because he had taken a pill a friend had given him.
Also on Thursday, Dolbin sentenced James A. Whitman, 21, of Tower City, to spend six to 23 months in prison on receiving stolen property charges.
Whitman originally pleaded guilty on May 18 to two counts of receiving stolen property. Dolbin placed him on probation for 23 months and also sentenced him to submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.
However, Dolbin revoked that probation on Thursday before imposing the new sentence after Whitman admitted he had pleaded guilty to a new crime and had used marijuana.
State police at Schuylkill Haven had charged Whitman with receiving stolen property on Feb. 9, 2008.
In another Thursday case, Dolbin sentenced Johnathan L. Speer, 22, of Wiconisco, to serve six to 23 months in prison for simple assault.
Speer originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 24, 2010, to simple assault and harassment, with prosecutors dropping a second simple assault charge. Dolbin placed the defendant on probation for 18 months and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $50 fine, a $50 CJEA payment and $6,139.30 restitution.
However, Dolbin removed Speer from probation after the defendant admitted his new arrest and failure to make payments on his costs, fines and restitution.
State police at Schuylkill Haven had charged Speer with committing the assault and harassment on April 24, 2010.