by peter e. bortner
ORWIGSBURG - A Philadelphia man will face only two charges stemming from an incident in December in Schuylkill Haven, as prosecutors dropped 26 others when he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Eric M. Booker, 20, of 1513 Belmont Ave., still is charged with one count each of criminal trespass and recklessly endangering another person, which Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over for Schuylkill County Court.
Prosecutors withdrew 14 counts of conspiracy, four each of aggravated assault and robbery, three of recklessly endangering another person and one of burglary.
Although he entered Ferrier's courtroom in a prison jumpsuit, handcuffs and a belt, Booker had his bail reduced by Ferrier to $20,000 unsecured from $20,000 straight cash, a reduction that enabled the defendant to leave prison pending further court action.
Booker said nothing during Tuesday's proceeding except to indicate to Ferrier that he understood the charges against him and what was being done.
Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Booker with participating in an apartment invasion that resulted in three people being taken to the hospital.
Police alleged Booker entered 208 Dock St. Apt. 6 at 8:17 p.m. Dec. 4 with at least four other people, Alfred Booker and Leonard L. Stubbs, both of Philadelphia, Christopher Cheese, Pottsville, and Christopher Scott, Schuylkill Haven. Those four also have been charged in connection with the incident.
As a result of the incident, police said, three people in the apartment, Julian E. Coutourieri, Sammuel Haiger and Michael Williams, had to be taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown area, for treatment of head injuries.
However, all three have recovered from their injuries, police said.
Also on Tuesday, Eric Booker pleaded not guilty to a disorderly conduct charge that resulted from an alleged incident at a basketball game on Dec. 1. Ferrier told him he would schedule a separate hearing on that charge. Defendant: Eric M. Booker
Age: 20
Residence: Philadelphia
Charges: Criminal trespass and recklessly endangering another person
