A Tamaqua man will spend more time in prison after pleading guilty Monday in Schuylkill County Court to using a Hometown company's credit card without permission.
Thomas M. Drum, 38, must serve three to 23 months in prison, submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $2,564.84 restitution to American Express under the terms of Judge Charles M. Miller's sentence.
"You're accepting responsibility" for your actions by pleading guilty to access device fraud, Miller told Drum.
Prosecutors dropped charges of theft and receiving stolen property as part of the plea agreement with Drum.
Rush Township police had charged Drum with improperly using a credit card of Seitz Brothers Exterminating Co. Inc. from Dec. 8, 2011, to Jan. 10. Seitz Brothers has been compensated, meaning Drum must pay the restitution to the credit card company, Miller said.
"I want to do that as soon as possible," Drum said.
Miller also revoked Drum's parole in a separate case in which the defendant had pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2010, to driving under the influence. Miller originally sentenced him to serve 90 days to five years in prison and pay costs, a $1,500 fine, $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, a $50 CJEA payment and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.
Tamaqua police alleged Drum was DUI on June 20, 2009, in the borough.
In another Monday case, Miller revoked the parole of Nicholas J. Garulle, 22, of Barnesville, and ordered him to stay in prison until July 11, 2013, his maximum time.
"This is not fun and games," Miller said in rejecting Garulle's pleas for leniency.
Garulle originally pleaded guilty on June 22, 2011, to receiving stolen property, with prosecutors dropping a charge of theft. Miller sentenced him to serve 88 days to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment and $1,569.03 restitution.
Mahanoy City police had charged Garulle with receiving the stolen property on March 20, 2010, in the borough.
Garulle admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his parole office and using marijuana.
"I made mistakes. My past is my past," Garulle said. "I'm looking forward for a reason."
In other court action, a Reading man was convicted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court of violating a protection from abuse order in April in Pottsville by having impermissible contact with a woman.
Jose A. Echevarria, 20, of Reading, must pay costs and a $300 fine as the result of Judge John E. Domalakes finding him guilty of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom.
"There was contact. Contact was forbidden," Domalakes, who heard the case without a jury, said in explaining his decision.
Pottsville police had charged Echevarria with violating the order on April 24 in the city.
"Jose pushed my face against a wall," testified Rachel Metzger, Pottsville, who said Echevarria is the father of her unborn child. "He kept me in the bathroom about 20 minutes."
Metzger also said Echevarria was yelling at and threatening her.
Domalakes had entered the order against Echevarria on Feb. 22.
Domalakes also found William W. Murphy Sr., 21, of Pottsville, guilty of indirect criminal contempt for violating a PFA order, and sentenced him to pay costs and a $300 fine.
Pottsville police charged Murphy with entering the residence of Wendy Howells on April 22 in the city.
"You're excluded from there," Domalakes told Murphy in rendering his verdict.
Howells, who said she and Murphy already have one child and have another on the way, testified he had hit her during the afternoon and then entered her home in the evening.
Murphy said Howells uses the order against him.
"She uses it whenever she feels like it," he testified.
However, Domalakes said the reasons behind Howells' conduct are irrelevant.
"We're not going to drop the PFA," he said.
Senior Judge D. Michael Stine had entered the order against Murphy on Jan. 26, 2011.
Domalakes found Ryan I. Miller, 22, of Auburn, not guilty of violating a temporary PFA order.
State police at Schuylkill Haven had charged Miller with violating the order on March 16 in West Brunswick Township by entering a house occupied by Ashley Parsons.
"I found Ryan in the back bedroom," testified Parsons, who said she and the defendant once had a sexual relationship.
"You are positive it was Mr. Miller?" asked Assistant District Attorney Robert E. Matta.
"Yes," Parsons replied.
However, Miller testified he was with a friend that morning and never entered the house where Parsons was.
Judge James P. Goodman had entered the temporary order against Miller on March 14.
On Wednesday, Jennifer L. Ost, 34, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Domalakes also sentenced her to pay costs and a $300 fine.
Pottsville police charged Ost with violating the order, which had been entered against her by Goodman on April 11, on April 24 in the city by knocking on the window of the victim's residence.