A Northampton County woman returned to prison Friday after being sentenced in Schuylkill County Court for retail theft.
Brandy L. Darrow, 38, of Easton, must serve two to 18 months in prison and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes’ sentence.
Domalakes, who made the sentence concurrent with one Darrow already is serving in Luzerne County, imposed the prison term after revoking the defendant’s probation, which she admitted violating by committing a new crime.
Darrow, who appeared in court in handcuffs and a prison jumpsuit, initially pleaded guilty on Feb. 18 to retail theft. At that time, Domalakes placed her on probation for 18 months and also sentenced her to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, which she still must pay under the terms of Friday’s sentence, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
State police at Schuylkill Haven originally charged Darrow with committing the theft on May 14, 2014, in Norwegian Township.
In county court action Thursday, a Pine Grove man returned to prison after being sentenced in Schuylkill County Court in connection with a June 2014 incident in Tower City.
Anthony J. Brasher Jr., 26, must serve four to 12 months in prison under the terms of Judge James P. Goodman’s sentence.
Goodman imposed the sentence after revoking Brasher’s probation, which the defendant admitted violating.
Brasher originally pleaded guilty on May 20 to disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of simple assault and harassment. At that time, Goodman placed Brasher on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $50 fine and $50 to the CJEA.
Tower City police charged Brasher with committing his crimes on June 9, 2014, in the borough.
Also in the county court, President Judge William E. Baldwin revoked the probation of Lindsey M. Hoffecker, 26, of Schuylkill Haven, on Tuesday and sentenced her to serve two to 12 months in prison.
Baldwin revoked Hoffecker’s probation after the defendant admitted violating it by committing new crimes.
Hoffecker originally pleaded guilty on March 20, 2013, to four counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of manufacture of a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrawing four counts of adulterated or misbranded controlled substance and three additional ones of manufacture of a controlled substance.
At that time, Baldwin placed Hoffecker on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced her to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, a $50 CJEA payment, a $187.05 bench warrant fee and $365 restitution.
Pottsville police had alleged Hoffecker possessed drugs on Aug. 30, 2012, in the city.
In county court action Wednesday, a judge ruled that three men are guilty of violating protection from abuse orders.
Craig V. Brennan, 28, of Girardville, is guilty of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom, Judge John E. Domalakes decided.
Domalakes sentenced Brennan to serve six months probation and pay costs and a $300 fine.
Minersville police had charged Brennan, who did not attend Wednesday’s hearing, with violating a PFA order on July 28 by communicating with ex-girlfriend, Jody Lyden, at her job at Minersville Elementary School.
“It was all day long,” Lyden testified about the threatening messages Brennan sent to her. “He continued to contact me for about a month.”
Judge Jacqueline L. Russell had entered the order against Brennan on Oct. 8, 2014.
In addition to sentencing Brennan, Domalakes issued a bench warrant for him.
Another defendant, Dean L. Elliott, 55, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Domalakes sentenced him to pay costs and a $300 fine.
Elliott admitted having contact with the victim on Aug. 26 in Pottsville, as city police had charged.
Judge James P. Goodman had entered the order against Elliott on Dec. 31, 2014.
Domalakes also found David Pribila, 61, of Coaldale, guilty of indirect criminal contempt, sentencing him to pay costs and a $300 fine.
Coaldale police had charged Pribila with having contact with his wife, Jane Pribila, on Aug. 24 in the borough.
“He threw me on the kitchen floor,” Jane Pribila testified about the argument between the couple, which started over a container.
Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin had entered the order against David Pribila on July 29.
In a fourth case, Domalakes found Thaddeus J. Carl, 29, of Pine Grove, not guilty of indirect criminal contempt when the alleged victim did not appear for Wednesday’s scheduled hearing.
State police at Schuylkill Haven had alleged Carl violated the order against him on Aug. 26. Judge Charles M. Miller had entered that order on July 15.
A Frackville woman went to prison Tuesday after being sentenced in Schuylkill County Court on a charge of driving under the influence.
Tanya L. Zinavage, 35, frowned as President Judge William E. Baldwin sentenced her to serve 90 days to five years behind bars.
Baldwin imposed the sentence after removing Zinavage from the intermediate punishment program as the result of her being arrested again for DUI.
“This is a serious violation,” Baldwin told Zinavage, who admitted prosecutors could prove it was more likely than not that she was DUI.
Zinavage originally pleaded guilty Feb. 22, 2012, to DUI, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of unsafe U-turn. At that time, Baldwin placed Zinavage in the intermediate punishment program for five years, and also ordered her to pay costs, a $1,500 fine, $300 to the SAEF and $90.19 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.
Butler Township police alleged Zinavage was DUI on Aug. 1, 2010, in the township.
Also on Tuesday, prosecutors withdrew four drug-related charges against Maurice A. Porter, 49, of Schuylkill Haven.
Porter had been charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance.
Pottsville police had charged Porter with selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant on Dec. 5, 2014, in the parking lot of the Giant supermarket in the city.
Baldwin had declared a mistrial in the case June 2 after prosecutors discovered they had not given cell phone records to the defense, as they were required to do under state court rules.
In another case, Baldwin sentenced Porter on July 23 to serve nine to 23 months in prison.
Another jury had found Porter guilty June 1 of possession of a controlled substance but not guilty of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Pottsville police in that case charged Porter with possessing 5 grams of methamphetamine on Nov. 19, 2014, in the city.
