Man jailed on
burglary charges
ORWIGSBURG - An Auburn man was jailed after being arrested by Orwigsburg police early Thursday morning on burglary charges.
Police said Matthew Gaugler, 28, was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
He was then committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $15,000 straight cash bail, and will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James Ferrier, Orwigsburg.
Police said officers were called to 11 Oakdale Estates about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday for a nonactive burglary and assault that had just occurred.
Police said Gaugler barged into the home of his ex-girlfriend, Nicole Truax, unexpected and uninvited and got into an argument with the woman.
He then spat on Truax before leaving the scene, police said.
Police said officers were called back to the home with Gaugler returned and began beating on an exterior door and window.
Gaugler, police said, was visibly intoxicated and subsequently taken into custody.
McAdoo woman
free on bail
A McAdoo woman is free on bail after being charged with retail theft Wednesday after an incident at Kohl's, 7110 Fairlane Village mall in East Norwegian Township.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Brandy Darrow, 36, was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.
Police said the woman was seen by store security removing shoes from boxes and placing them in her cart along with a shirt. She then passed all points of sale and tried to leave the store without paying for the items, police said.
Mahanoy woman
charged in assault
MAHANOY CITY - Mahanoy City police charged a borough woman in connection with an incident on May 6 at a home at 1037 E. Pine St.
Police said Debra A. Merook, 51, of 1035 E. Pine St., was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault of an unborn child, simple assault and harassment and will now have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Police said officers were called to the area for a report of two women fighting in the street and learned Merook slapped her daughter, Cynamon Merook, in the face and then grabbed a broom and hit her in the arm and stomach despite the fact that her daughter was six months pregnant.
Debra Merook was found inside her home and told officers she was upstairs in the shower, but neighbors reported the woman ran back into her home after police were called about the fight, police said.
Police charge man
for shots fired
ORWIGSBURG - Orwigsburg police said Thursday they filed charges against a man in connection with a Dec. 17 incident in which shots were fired at West Cherry and Harmon streets.
Police said the investigation determined that Christopher Johnston, 21, of Orwigsburg, was the person who initially brought the handgun to the area and, during a verbal and physical altercation, fired one round from the weapon.
No one was struck, but the night of the incident, police said, Johnston was found with a homemade explosive device that had to be rendered safe.
Police said Johnston was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, on charges of aggravated assault, weapons of mass destruction, possession of a firearm by someone not allowed, receiving stolen property, prohibited offensive weapons, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and disorderly conduct.
Ferrier set bail at $20,000 straight cash and Johnston remains in Schuylkill County Prison, where he is being held on unrelated charges.
At the scene the night of the incident, police said officers found Jeffrey D. Roberts, 20, whose address was not available, displaying a handgun. He has been charged with a gun violation, a weapons violation for another gun he had in his possession along with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Another man, Edward Daley, 19, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, police said.
Mahanoy woman
faces drug charges
MAHANOY CITY - Mahanoy City police filed charges against a borough woman after an incident on May 7 at her home.
Police said Mollie McGuire, whose age was not available, of 122 W. Birch St., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police said officers were called for a domestic dispute and subsequently discovered McGuire had empty packets that are used for heroin and other drugs, a syringe, a foil marijuana pipe and one glass and one plastic pipe, both commonly used for smoking crack cocaine.
Mahanoy man
faces charges
MAHANOY CITY - A borough man was arrested by Mahanoy City police and charged after an incident about 7 p.m. May 7 at his home.
Police said Stephen M. Bolish, 21, of 122 W. Birch St., was charged with one count each of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment.
Bolish, police said, became involved in an argument with Kathryn Bolish, 88, over $45 that was missing from her purse. During the argument, Stephen Bolish yelled and screamed at the woman, pushed her on the chest and threw a basketball and picture frame at her, hitting the woman in the foot.
Stephen Bolish also knocked items off a refrigerator and knocked out a screen window in the front of the house before exiting, police said.
Man faces charge
for violating PFA
MAHANOY CITY - An April 27 incident at 1404 E. Centre St. in the borough has led to charges being filed against a Frackville man.
Mahanoy City police said Chad Benjamin, 33, of 147 N. Wylam St., was charged with violating a Protection From Abuse order.
Benjamin, police said, went to the home of a woman despite being ordered to have no contact with her. The woman said she was upstairs in the home and came down to find Chad Benjamin and his brother inside.
Police said Chad Benjamin told the woman he was there to get personal items, but she told him to leave and called authorities.
Investigation leads
to charges filed
MAHANOY CITY - An investigation by Mahanoy City police into a Jan. 17 incident has led to charges being filed against a borough woman.
Police said Shannon L. Marlow, 37, of 536 E. Centre St., was charged with criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Police said Brenda Harper reported she and her brother, Dennis Marlow, went to the home of Shannon Marlow to pick up Dennis Marlow's children but while there, Shannon Marlow exited the house screaming and throwing things at their SUV.
Shannon Marlow also pulled the hair of Brenda Marlow, hit her and then struck the SUV with a shovel, causing damage of $1,481.46.