SHAMOKIN - An 18-year-old Valley View man, who fled the scene of a two-vehicle accident at Market and Chestnut streets Friday night following a high-speed chase, has been charged with 11 offenses, including a felony of endangering police and the general public while fleeing or attempting to elude police.

Gavin D. Heim, of 329 Park Road, was arraigned Friday night by Senior Magisterial District Judge Michael Mychak on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, accidents involving death or personal injury, resisting arrest, accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, accidents involving damage to attended property, failure to give information and render aid, driving under suspension, reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, a red light violation and a stop sign violation.

The charges were filed by Patrolman William Zalinski in connection with the accident that resulted in injuries to two people and culminated a high-speed chase that started at Shamokin and Independence streets.

Heim was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury after failing to provide $35,000 cash bail.

Zalinski, who was on patrol in the 400 block of East Independence Street, said he spotted Heim travel through a stop sign at Shamokin and Independence streets while driving a silver, two-door coupe south on Shamokin Street shortly after 6 p.m. Zalinski said he activated his emergency lights and pursued the car while it traveled through stop signs at Shamokin and Shakespeare streets, Shakespeare and Rock streets, and Water and Liberty streets before heading onto East Lincoln Street.

Police said the car continued to increase its speed as it traveled west on Lincoln Street. Police said the auto traveled through a stop sign at Lincoln and Eighth streets and a red light at Lincoln and Market streets while steering around vehicles in the westbound lane and through the intersection.

Police reported Heim failed to stop for a stop sign at Arch and Sixth streets before going south on Sixth Street. The car then quickly turned east off Sixth Street onto Chestnut Street before proceeding at a high rate of speed through a stop sign at Chestnut and Market streets, where it collided with a car in the middle of the intersection. The auto struck by Heim's vehicle was traveling south on Market Street and came to rest at the southwest corner of the intersection after spinning around from the collision.

Heim and his two passengers immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot east on Chestnut Street.

Officer Nathan Rhodes pursued Heim on foot west in the 200 block of West Spruce Street, where Rhodes and Cpl. John Brown tackled Heim and took him into custody.

Zalinski said charges also are pending against a male juvenile passenger, who was taken into custody a few minutes after the accident. The officer said another passenger identified as a black male has not been located.

Stephanie Eckbold, 28, of 646 Bear Valley Ave., Shamokin, who was driving the car struck by Heim's vehicle, and her husband, Richard Eckbold, 30, suffered injuries and were transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital. Both victims underwent emergency room treatment before being released.

SHAMOKIN - Police are continuing their search for two area men charged with stealing six guns from a home at 115 S. First St. Saturday afternoon.

Warrants have been issued for the arrests of Ronald A. Wills, 24, of 67 Springside St., Locust Gap, and Joseph Scherr, 22, of 339 E. Seventh St., Mount Carmel, who were both charged Monday by Patrolman Jarrod Scandle with felonies of burglary and theft by unlawful taking.

Police reported Wills and Scherr are accused of entering the residence of James Cress Jr. and his girlfriend, Christine Wills, who is Ronald A. Wills' sister, and stealing five rifles and one pistol before fleeing the scene when spotted inside the residence by Cress' father, James Cress Sr. Police said the burglary occurred shortly after 3 p.m.

James Cress Sr. told police he was at his son's home to let his dog out when he heard male voices inside the residence while he was in the back yard with the dog. Cress said he went inside to investigate and saw Wills and Scherr.

Cress said he initially confronted Wills before chasing Scherr out of the house. Cress told police Scherr ran north on First Street and then east on Spruce Street. He said Wills also fled from the home on foot, following the same route as Scherr.

Police said Cress contacted Christine Wills about the burglary, and she arrived at the home a short time later.

Christine Wills told police neither her brother nor Scherr had permission to be inside her residence.

A neighbor told police she observed a white male exit 115 S. First St. and run north on First Street while holding several guns "very tightly" on his side. She said some of the guns were rifles.

The stolen guns have been identified as a .35 Remington rifle, .223 Savage rifle, .22 Hornet Savage rifle, 30-30 Marlin rifle, Thompson Contender with a 30-30 barrel and .44 Magnum barrel, and .22 Ruger pistol.

Scandle said the suspects may have fled the area in a black Nissan Maxima bearing Pennsylvania registration HPH6572. He said a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) report was placed for the suspects and vehicle.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A former Northwestern Academy employee has filed a "forced resignation complaint" against the facility and its parent company, Northwestern Human Services (NHS), alleging she was subjected to racial and sexual discrimination by fellow employees and nothing was done about it.

The complaint was filed June 27 with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) by Louise Pepper, of Northumberland, one day after she was escorted out of the township juvenile detention facility after her resignation was accepted.

Pepper originally gave two weeks notice for her resignation.

"Over my eight years there, I have been continually harassed and discriminated against, but the company has continued to sweep it under the rug," Pepper said in a recent interview. "As a black female, I've got to be heard and make a stand against it."

Academy Executive Director Jim Sharp said the matter was investigated. He said he is disheartened about Pepper's departure.

"I'm disappointed when we lose any staff here," Sharp said. "It takes a special person to be a part of Northwestern, and we all have pride in the work our people do."

Racism alleged

According to the complaint, Pepper, a former youth services supervisor, said she was sexually harassed by a co-worker on June 20 and the subject of racist communications. She claims that five black employees, out of 200 total, were grouped together and treated differently,

"I was harassed and told by my supervisor and my supervisor's supervisor that it would be handled, but nothing was done," Pepper wrote in her complaint. "I felt afraid, ashamed and embarrassed and did not feel safe at work."

She said she notified superiors about the situation through email, and was told the matter would be handled. On June 25, Pepper arrived at work and found her alleged harasser working in the same building. She then sent another email to 14 superiors, including Sharp and Rayni Anderson Brindley, NHS executive director of operations.

She provided a copy of the email to The News-Item.

"Due to my feelings of this being dismissed once again by the administration team," Pepper wrote, "I am terminating my employment with Northwestern Academy, effective July 8."

'Slap' or standard procedure?

The next day, Pepper met with Sharp, who informed her NHS was accepting the resignation, not in two weeks, but that day. Security then escorted her out of the building.

What Pepper called a "slap in the face," Sharp called standard procedure.

"We accepted the resignation, got her keys and made sure she left the building safely," Sharp said.

As far as Pepper's allegations, Sharp said Northwestern takes such matters seriously and investigates them thoroughly. In this case, Pepper was asked to meet with officials to give her side of the story.

Due to confidentiality concerns, Sharp could not say whether the alleged harasser was disciplined.

Sharp said Pepper was paid for two weeks from the time of termination.

Pepper's attorney, Joel Wiest, Sunbury, said the matter is under review by the PHRC. Any further action by Pepper depends on the PHRC's reaction, Wiest said.

"We can't go any further until they rule," he said.

Wiest said he was somewhat "shocked" by the case considering Pepper was named employee of the month in the secure services program in May.

"We have a person with a squeaky clean record ... who was forced to resign," Wiest said.

TREVORTON - One person remains in serious condition following a three-vehicle crash on Gap Road (Route 2044) at a section known as "dead man's curve" in Zerbe Township Sunday afternoon.

Salvatore J. Penna, 58, of Carlisle, was still at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Monday afternoon after being transported via Life Flight helicopter from the 1 p.m. accident, which involved two motorcycles and injured five people.

State police at Stonington report Penna was traveling south on a 1977 Harley Davidson Sportster and started to negotiate a right curve. Another motorcycle, a 2012 Harley Davidson Street Glide, ridden by Andrew Williard, 42, and Shane Williard, 39, both of Herndon, was following.

At the same time, a 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, driven by Elwood J. Harner, 85, of Ashland, was traveling north on Gap Road.

Police say when Penna made the turn, he crossed the center line and entered the northbound lane, colliding with the left side of the Oldsmobile.

After the first impact, Harner's vehicle crossed into the southbound lane and struck Williard's motorcycle with its front end.

Harner, his passenger, Wanda Harner, of Ashland, and the Williards were transported to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital.

A spokesperson at Geisinger said the Harners were treated and released Sunday, while the Williards were kept overnight for observation before being discharged Monday.

Police said citations will be forthcoming.

SHAMOKIN - A 34-year-old Shamokin man charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl was recommitted to Northumberland County Prison on Tuesday morning after waiving to court felonies of statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and aggravated indecent assault, and a misdemeanor of corruption of minors.

Shaine M. Wyland, of 692 Bear Valley Ave., who turned himself in July 23 to Coal Township police after being wanted on the charges for about two weeks, waived his case to county court and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to appear for plea court Sept. 24 at Northumberland County Courthouse in Sunbury. Wyland can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty during his plea court appearance.

The defendant, who was recommitted to the county jail in lieu of $200,000 cash bail set by Gembic at his July 23 arraignment, told the judge he understood he was giving up his right to a preliminary hearing by waiving the case to county court.

Wyland was represented by Attorney Shawn Curry of Dillsburg. First Assistant District Attorney Ann Targonski represented the commonwealth.

He is charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with having sex with a 13-year-old girl in February, which she told police was consensual. The incident is alleged to have occurred in a mountainous area known as the "PennDOT," approximately 3 miles southeast of Burnside.

Police said Wyland and the victim knew each other.

The victim reportedly is living with a local relative and remains under the supervision of Northumberland County Children and Youth Services.

Wyland, who faces a maximum of 55 years in prison and $85,000 in fines, claimed he was riding dirt bikes with friends in Lancaster County and was unaware there was a warrant for his arrest when he turned himself over to authorities last month.

Suspect went to Lancaster County

The charges were filed July 12 and Brennan expected to take Wyland into custody that same day, but when the detective searched for the man, Wyland was nowhere to be found.

Wyland told the judge he had been in touch with Brennan before a warrant was issued and was aware of the possibility that charges would be filed. That said, he decided to travel with friends to visit family in Lancaster County.

Though he claimed to be in Lancaster County, Coal Township police officers received multiple tips that Wyland was spotted in the Coal Township and rural Sunbury areas, and the officers were on the lookout for him.

SHAMOKIN - An inmate at SCI-Coal Township charged with stabbing another inmate in the neck with a six-inch metal shank in December was ordered Tuesday morning to appear for a pre-trial conference Oct. 5 in Northumberland County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing on multiple charges including criminal attempt to commit homicide.

Ramon Aikeen Frazier, 22, waived to court felonies of criminal attempt to commit homicide, aggravated assault (two counts) and assault by a prisoner, and misdemeanors of possessing instruments of crime and possessing a prohibited offensive weapon.

The charges were filed by Troopers Ronald Zanella and Kevin Kearney of state police at Stonington.

Frazier, who was represented at the hearing by Northumberland County Public Defender Michael Romance, told Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III that he understood the ramifications of waiving the charges and his county arraignment.

Frazier, who appeared in an orange prison jumpsuit, was escorted to and from his arraignment by three correctional officers at SCI-Coal Township.

Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini and Zanella were in the courtroom ready to prosecute the case if Frazier chose to take a full hearing. But the defendant informed Romance that he preferred to waive the charges to county court to expedite the case.

No feeling in his limbs

Frazier is accused of stabbing 23-year-old inmate Dashawn Anthony Harris, in the neck with a six-inch metal shank made from a piece of heavy-gauge fencing while the victim was playing basketball in the west yard of the state correctional institution at 2:20 p.m. Dec. 1.

Police said Harris, who was attacked from behind and had the metal shank stuck in the right side of his neck, was conscious but complained of having no feeling in his limbs upon being treated at the scene and transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Harris, who was admitted to Geisinger with what police described as a potentially life-threatening injury, required "emergency operative intervention" by a neurosurgeon. He was returned to SCI-Coal Township, but is still undergoing physical therapy for his injury, according to police.

Police said Frazier is a native of Delaware and resided in the Pittsburgh area at one time.

Gang related?

Dave Varano, superintendent at SCI-Coal Township, said Frazier is serving a 2 1/2 to 7-year state prison sentence on criminal conspiracy and robbery charges committed in Northampton County. He said Frazier was committed to the state prison system May 2, 2007, and was incarcerated at SCI-Pine Grove on July 26, 2007. He remained at SCI-Pine Grove before being transferred to SCI-Coal Township on April 12, 2010.

Varano said Harris, who is from the Pittsburgh area, is serving a 7 1/2 to 20-year state prison sentence for first-degree murder committed in Allegheny County. He was incarcerated at SCI-Pine Grove on Sept. 13, 2007, and remained there until being transferred to SCI-Coal Township on Nov. 15, 2011.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Harris told Kearney at Geisinger on Dec. 1 that he couldn't identify who stabbed him because he was attacked from behind.

Harris said he didn't know why he was attacked, but said the assault may have been gang related because he is a member of the Bloods.

State police said Frazier admitted to two lieutenants at the prison during a Dec. 8 interview that he stabbed Harris.

During a Jan. 12 recorded interview with state police Cpl. Richard Bramhall Jr., Frazier initially denied stabbing the victim and claimed what he wrote in his statement to the lieutenants was a lie. Frazier told Bramhall he was a member of the Crips and had prior conflict with Harris while both men were inmates at SCI-Pine Grove, including an incident in which Harris "beat him badly."

Later in the interview with Bramhall, Frazier stated, "I stabbed Dashawn Harris and it's for a pretty good reason though because ... if I didn't get him, he was gonna get me."

Bramhall said a few minutes later, Frazier admitted what he wrote in his statement during his Dec. 8 interview was true.

Asked by Bramhall if he wanted to kill Harris, Frazier replied, "No, I didn't want to kill him." Frazier said he understood that stabbing someone in the neck could kill a person, but replied, "I had to do what I had to do."

CATAWISSA TOWNSHIP - A former art teacher at Southern Columbia Area Middle School was killed Monday morning after his bicycle went out of control and slammed into a pickup truck.

Ed Rhoades, 65, of 465 E. Main St., Catawissa, who retired from teaching in 2011, died at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Monday following the 10 a.m. accident on Old Reading Road near Sycamore Drive, according to The (Bloomsburg) Press-Enterprise.

Police said Rhoades was riding a mountain bike when he lost control of the bike while heading downhill on Old Reading Road. A 17-year-old Shamokin male, who was traveling at the bottom of the hill, stopped when he saw the bike coming toward him, but Rhoades hit the front of the truck with the bike. Police said the helmet Rhoades was wearing was damaged. The truck had significant damage as well, police said.

Police told The Press-Enterprise the driver will not be charged.

Southern Columbia Area School District Superintendent Charles Reh remembered Rhoades as a person ready to do anything to help the district.

"He was a great guy, always willing to help out when he was needed to," Reh said Tuesday. "He loved art and music and helped the middle school program with the look of many of the publications that were done here."

Items stolen

UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP - Jeremy R. Good, 34, of Park Drive, Sunbury, reported to state police at Stonington that sometime between 5 p.m. Sunday and 11:30 p.m. Monday, someone removed building materials, scrap metal and tools from his property.

Simple assault

COAL TOWNSHIP - Bernadette Ann Christman, 37, of 1000 W. Mulberry St., Coal Township, was charged by Patrolman Jason Adams with simple assault and harassment involving a disturbance at 4 p.m. Monday at her residence.

Police reported Christman is accused of grabbing her husband, Jason McGuinn, and scratching him several times, causing lacerations to his left upper chest and right forearm.

Christman was arraigned at 10 p.m. Monday by on-call Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Investigation done

SHAMOKIN - An investigation by city police into an alleged altercation Sunday afternoon in the area of Wendy's parking lot on East Independence Street has been completed and no arrests were made.

Chief of Police Edward Griffiths said Tuesday various statements were provided to police from alleged witnesses and the 13-year-old girl and adult male who were involved in the incident during a community service cleanup detail. Griffiths said the teen and adult male preferred not to press charges against each other. He said the case was referred to the county district attorney's office for an opinion on whether charges should be filed.

When contacted Tuesday afternoon, Assistant District Attorney Michael Toomey said there wasn't enough evidence in his opinion to prosecute the case, especially since neither of the individuals involved in the alleged altercation wanted to press charges.

Simple assault

SHAMOKIN - Sylvia Tinley, 21, of 224 E. Sunbury St., Apt. 2, Shamokin, was charged by Patrolman Jarrod Scandle with simple assault and harassment for allegedly striking her live-in boyfriend, Olson Walker, 36, in the back and shoulder several times with a curtain rod at their apartment at approximately 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Walker suffered bruises in the assault, police said.

Tinley was previously cited by Cpl. Darwin Tobias III for harassment for striking Walker with a curtain rod early Monday morning at their apartment.

Tinley was arraigned on the new charges at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and released on $2,500 bail.

Computer theft

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shane Michael Wallace, 31, of 1339 Scott St., Kulpmont, was charged by Patrolman Jason Adams with theft and receiving stolen property.

According to a criminal complaint, Wallace is accused of stealing a computer valued at $298 from Wal-Mart Supercenter along Route 61 at approximately 12:15 p.m. July 12.

Scam reported

COAL TOWNSHIP - Police here are investigating an email scam that was reported Monday night.

Police said emails were sent to Internet customers under such titles as "Mystery Shopper" or "Secret Shopper."

A company that goes by various names requests customers to purchase select items at specific stores and keep receipts. In the meantime, police said the company sends the shoppers a money order or check and requests the shopper cash it and send the company an amount of money in a money order along with the receipts. The company allows the shopper to keep a set amount of money from the initial money order or check.

The checks and addresses used for the company aren't legitimate, police said. The checks are made to an official financial institution, but are fraudulent and are not issued from that institution.

Disorderly conduct

SHAMOKIN - Shane R. Picarella, 22, of Shamokin, was charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano with two counts of disorderly conduct relating to a disturbance at approximately 5 a.m. July 25 outside 25 E. Church St.

Police reported Picarella made unreasonable noise and threatened people.

Criminal mischief

MOUNT CARMEL - Harold Wolford, 18, of 718 E. Race St., Shamokin, was arraigned Tuesday by on-call Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on charges of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct relating to a disturbance at approximately 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of West Third Street.

Police reported Wolford punched three holes in the wall at the residence of his mother, Katherine Orfield, of 44 W. Third St., Mount Carmel, and then used an aluminum baseball bat to cause considerable damage to Orfield's mini van parked outside her home.

The charges were filed by Mount Carmel Patrolman Kevin Katch.

Wolford was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.

SUNBURY - A Coal Township man charged two years ago with assaulting the operator of a local oil company pleaded no contest Thursday afternoon to violating his parole after being arrested in Philadelphia last month for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife.

Stanley E. Romanoski, 41, of 1476 Trevorton Road, was sentenced by President Judge Robert Sacavage to time served for his past 23 days in prison and 23 months of probation, based on the recommendation of the Adult Probation Office.

Prosecuting Attorney William Cole said Romanoski must also have supervision when exchanging his children with his estranged wife, since the alleged domestic incident occurred during an exchange, and he'll be required to have stress and anger management counseling.

Romanoski, who was represented by Attorney Paige Rosini, said little during the brief proceeding, only affirming for the judge that he understood the charges and sentencing.

He was then escorted by sheriff's deputies back to Northumberland County Prison. A representative at the district attorney's office said it was not known when Romanoski would be released. A representative at the prison said Romanoski was committed to his cell at 3:30 p.m. and that no paperwork had been provided for his release.

A phone call to the prison confirmed he had not been released as of 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Incident with wife

Romanoski faces misdemeanor charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person relating to a domestic dispute that occurred at 4:45 p.m. July 6 at the victim's home in the Rhawnhurst section of northeast Philadelphia. The victim, who has been separated from Romanoski since 2009, reportedly suffered injuries.

Romanoski was set free in Philadelphia after posting 10 percent of his $1,500 bail, but was taken into custody five days later in Northumberland County. Authorities said the new charges represented a violation of Romanoski's supervised probation for a 2010 incident in which he was accused of assaulting Les Bloom, 61, of Catawissa, co-owner and operator of Bloom Heating and Oil, Tharptown, at his business.

Romanoski, who was an employee with Duke Heating Oil in Weigh Scales at the time, pleaded no contest to simple assault and was sentenced by Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage to 24 months of intermediate punishment, the first 30 days served on house arrest.

Romanoski told police he went to Bloom's business to confront him about allegations Bloom was stealing customers from Duke, which filed for bankruptcy later in 2010.

In February 2011, at which time Romanoski was still affiliated with Duke Heating Oil, the state Department of Public Welfare (DPW) said it received approximately 50 complaints over three weeks about the company. Customers who were part of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) accused Duke Heating of not delivering fuel oil despite being paid for it by the state. That prompted DPW to recommend customers receiving public assistance for their heating oil not use Duke.

Romanoski is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on the Philadelphia case on Aug. 9.

Burglary

DORNSIFE - A floor safe with money and documents was stolen from Vinnie Klock, of Hillcrest Drive, in Little Mahanoy Township, between July 27 and Aug. 1, according to state police at Stonington.

Trooper Todd Leiby reported that the total loss of cash and property is estimated at $500.

SHAMOKIN - Picket signs that landlord Barry Getchey has used to express criticism of Shamokin Housing Authority officials have resulted in a libel suit.

Raymond G. "Jerry" Splane, authority chairman, filed the complaint July 25 in Northumberland County Court, seeking at least $25,000 plus punitive damages from Getchey for conduct described as "outrageous, wanton, reckless, willful, oppressive and the result of a bad motive or reckless indifference."

Getchey has been at odds with Splane and authority executive director Ronald Miller since November, when the

authority began withholding Section 8 federal housing rental payments from Getchey. The authority said Getchey had failed to comply with HUD regulations and lease requirements and failed to make adequate and timely repairs to his apartment building at the corner of West Spruce and Sixth streets. Getchey complained to HUD, but the agency affirmed the authority's decision.

Getchey, 68, reacted by picketing regularly in front of the authority's downtown building at Independence and Eighth streets. Content on some of his first signs included "Stop corruption at our HUD office."

But copies of photographs taken in July and provided as exhibits in the lawsuit show Getchey, who uses a wheelchair during the picketing, holding hand-written signs that say "Jerry Splane thinks the rape of a 10-year-old boy was great," "J.S. likes little boys" and "Ron Miller and Jerry Splane of the Housing Authority are Gay," with smaller print below, "very joyous and merry."

The words were intended to expose Splane to "public hatred, contempt or ridicule, or injure the plaintiff" personally and as authority chairman, the lawsuit states. It says the plaintiff "emphatically denies" that any of the statements are true.

"He has been picketing down here for the last six months and the comments have just escalated and escalated," Splane said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "He just keeps coming down here with that nonsense and it needs to stop. I'm tired of it."

Miller is not a plaintiff. The decision was made to focus on the comments made about Splane, said authority solicitor Frank Garrigan.

Bribery case tie-in

The lawsuit notes Getchey was charged by state police on April 16 with bribery and criminal attempt to commit obstruction of the law when he allegedly left a voice mail for Splane saying he would give him $300 if he used his influence to change Miller's decision and release the housing funds. Getchey has said his inability to rent to Section 8 tenants, resulting in the loss of $3,500 in monthly income, has ruined his rental business.

Getchey told The News-Item in January he wasn't trying to bribe Splane, but that the money was offered as a gift if he could help.

Getchey waived the charges to court on May 23 and on June 22 filed a request for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), a pre-trial program for non-violent offenders with a limited or no prior criminal record. If he completes ARD under conditions set by the court, his record could be expunged.

Splane's suit says he could be a witness against Getchey in any criminal prosecution.

Getchey said the libel suit will not deter his efforts because "they embarrassed me and my family with the bribery charge, so I will keep doing what I'm doing."

Getchey, in defending the condition of his apartment building, where he also lives, has repeatedly pointed to the fact that he was found not guilty Jan. 23 in district court of seven code violations filed by city code enforcement officer Rick Bozza.

Authority representation

Garrigan said legal fees and associated costs for the suit will be paid for by the authority, as approved at the board's recent meeting.

"The reasoning is that all of the libelous activity against Mr. Splane has come as part of his duties as chairman of the housing authority," Garrigan said this week.

Splane is seeking judgement "in an amount in excess of $25,000 plus attorney's fees and costs." That dollar amount requires that the case be heard by a jury and cannot be settled by arbitration, Garrigan said.

Garrigan said any award received will first reimburse the authority. The remainder would go to Splane.

Libel proof difficult

Jonathan Hugg, a Philadelphia attorney and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Media Response Team, said the content of Getchey's signs, offensive as it may be, doesn't guarantee a court victory. He said it is difficult for public officials and public figures to prove libel.

"It's not virtually impossible to prove libel against a public figure, but it's close," he said. "At the end of the day, a judge could look at this and say it is the statement of a frustrated citizen, and is deserving of protection under the First Amendment."

Hugg did wonder about the arrangement of Garrigan representing Splane when the authority itself is not a plaintiff.

"The solicitor owes his duty to the authority, not the members of its board. I've been an attorney for corporations and I work as the lawyer of the corporation, not its board members," he said. "The question I have is how is this lawsuit furthering the mission of the housing authority?"

Disorderly conduct

KULPMONT - Three Kulpmont adults and one juvenile were charged for disorderly conduct relating to a fight that occurred at approximately 6 p.m. July 25, according to Kulpmont Police Department.

Patrolman Michael Pitcavage reported that Ralph Little, 44, Randy Elliot, 22, Nicholas Elliot, 18, and a 15-year-old male were allegedly fighting in the 1200 block of Maple Street near the West End Fire Company.

Disorderly conduct

KULPMONT - Two Elysburg residents were charged for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness relating to a disturbance outside the Jan Sobieski Club at 12:30 a.m. July 28, according to Kulpmont Police Department.

Patrolman Michael Pitcavage reported that Melanie J. Guinther, 31, and Brandon T. Wehry, 27, were reportedly pushing one another and yelling obscenities in front of several witnesses.

No injuries

VALLEY TOWNSHIP - A Danville driver escaped injury when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and struck a utility pole at 11:05 a.m. July 27, according to stte police at Milton.

Trooper Garrett Marvich reported that Elijah M. Jones, 19, was traveling east on Liberty Valley Road (Route 642) near its intersection with Tyler Road in a 1991 Lincoln Towncar toward Danville when he drove off the right shoulder of the roadway and drove through a drainage ditch.

Jones steered the car back to the left, but overcorrected and rotated counter-clockwise 180 degrees, continued across both lanes of traffic and struck a utility pole with the passenger side, police said.

The car had to be towed from the scene, police said.

Jones, who was wearing his seatbelt, will be cited with a traffic violation, police said.

3 injured

CENTER TOWNSHIP - Three people were injured in a two-vehicle accident at 1:37 a.m. Aug. 3 on Troxelville Road (Route 4018) east of Thurman Drive, according to state police at Selinsgrove.

Trooper Rodney Shoeman reporter that Brittany N. Kalcich, 22, of Sunbury, was traveling west on Troxelville Road in a 1994 Ford Thunderbird while Robert D. Keister III, 20, of Penns Creek, was travelling east in a 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette when Kalcich crossed the center line and struck Kiester head on.

Both drivers were transported to Geisinger Medical Center by Life Flight with major injuries, while Kalcich's passenger, Dylon R. Riden, 19, of Beavertown, was transported to the Danville hospital via Reliance Hose Company Ambulance, police said.

Riden was listed in serious condition by a nursing supervisor Friday morning.

It is unknown whether the occupants were wearing their seatbelts, police said.

Reliance Hose and state police were also assisted at the scene by Mifflinburg Hose, Penns Creek Fire and EMT.

Burglary

MOUNT CARMEL - Michael T. Johnson, 21, of 226 W. Independence St., Apt. A, Shamokin, was charged by Patrolman David Donkochik with criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary, criminal trespass and loitering and prowling at night involving a May 28 burglary at the residence of Bernice Griffiths, 313 S. Vine St.

Two other defendants were previously charged in connection with the burglary.

Johnson was arraigned on the charges Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones and committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Multiple charges

MOUNT CARMEL - Tyler J. Arias, 20, of Berwick, was charged by Patrolman Matthew Dillman with criminal attempt to commit burglary, criminal attempt to commit criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, public drunkenness and underage drinking relating to a July 21 disturbance at Puff's Tobacco Store, 149 S. Oak St.

Arias was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones and committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Theft charges

MOUNT CARMEL - Patrolman William Adamski has charged Nicholas J. Dusendschine, 19, of 716 Spruce St., Kulpmont, with criminal conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen property.

Police said Dusendschine was charged in connection with the May 29 theft of cast iron fittings and other construction equipment owned by G&M Crawford from an equipment yard in the borough recreation complex.

Dusendschine was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones and released on $10,000 bail.

Theft offenses

RALPHO TOWNSHIP - Patrolman Chris Dailey has filed three criminal complaints against Brandi N. Benjamin, 22, of 119 W. Montgomery St., Shamokin, in connection with incidents that occurred at Sheetz and Knoebels Amusement Resort.

Benjamin is charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing a purse containing a wallet, $30 in cash, a digital camera, a cell phone, a Visa debit/credit card and a Capitol One credit card belonging to Melissa Napier Salamon, of Coopersburg. The purse was stolen at about 3:30 p.m. May 12 near the Phoenix rollercoaster at Knoebels.

She also is charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and two counts of access device fraud for allegedly stealing a Vera Bradley purse owned by Alison Stoltzfus, of Middleburg. Police said the purse contained a Vera Bradley wallet, a cell phone, house/car keys, and checkbook, a PSECU debit/credit card, a Master Card credit/debit card and a driver's license. Police said the theft occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. May 12 at the Olde Smokey train ride at Knoebels.

Police said Benjamin used one of the credit cards 15 times to make purchases totaling $978.25. She also attempted to use a credit card 13 times at various locations in an unsuccessful attempt to make purchases totaling $3,137.78.

Benjamin is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and access device fraud for allegedly stealing a purse owned by Amy Kondertavage, of Coaldale, from Knoebels on May 28 and using the victim's Master Card to purchase $45.02 in gas at 8:30 p.m. May 28 at Sheetz at the intersection of Routes 487 and 54 in Elysburg.

Benjamin was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones and committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $30,000 bail on all charges.

Burglary

SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP - State police at Stonington reported Matthew Alan Chambers, 30, of 624 N. Third St., Sunbury, will be charged with burglary-related offenses involving the theft of copper pipe Friday morning from the basement of an unoccupied modular home on Dogwood Lane owned by Barry Michael Buriak, 67, of Shamokin Township.

Police reported Chambers was caught by troopers in the basement after Buriak spotted a suspicious vehicle on his property. Police said Chambers damaged the basement door and made entry to the home. Copper pipe and wire that Chambers had cut out of the home's electric and plumbing systems were found in the bed of his pickup truck, police reported. Chambers also had loaded some other scrap metal from the property onto his truck.

Police said Chambers, who was found to be on probation, was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury for a probation violation.

Criminal mischief

MONROE TOWNSHIP - State police at Selinsgrove reported a vehicle owned by Nicole Heintzelman, of Mount Pleasant Mills, was struck by a white paintball along Route 11 at the Northumberland Bridge at 2:15 a.m. Friday.

Anyone with information is urged to call state police at 374-8145.

BEAR GAP - A family who witnessed a tree destroy a pop-up camper and injure a teenage girl Sunday at the Knoebels Amusement Resort campground had their own pop-up camper destroyed Monday in a three-vehicle accident on Route 54 between here and Natalie in Coal Township.

The Kennelly family, of Long Island, N.Y., had left their campsite around 2 p.m. Monday when they decided to visit the Roaring Creek Tract of the Weiser State Forest.

Daly Kennelly, 30, was attempting to turn her Dodge Caravan pulling a Coleman Montauk from the eastbound passing lane of Route 54 into the forest entrance road when the camper was struck from behind by a Honda CR-V that Coal Township police said was operated by Shirley Batdorf, 51, of Kulpmont.

After the crash, the Honda traveled into the slow, eastbound lane, striking a Mercedes-Benz Kompressor, operated by Cory Wasielczyk, 25 of Hanover.

The camper detached from the Caravan and stopped on the westbound shoulder, while the Honda spun and stopped in the center of the highway.

Wasielczyk said the Honda passed his vehicle at a "fast speed" and had not applied the brakes before striking the camper. Police had not yet issued a report on what their investigation found, and the investigating officer was not available Monday night.

Kennelly, her husband Jim, 45; three sons, 8, 14, and 15; a family friend, 11, and a dog were not injured. Batdorf and Wasielczyk also escaped injury.

The Caravan had rear bumper damage, but was driven from the scene. The same could not be said for the camper. Pieces of it and personal possessions from inside were scattered across the highway. What remained on the camper was a twisted shell.

At one point, Daly Kennelly began crying and she sat on the corner of a ripped open section of the camper.

"We felt a big bang and then the camper ripped away from the van," Jim Kennelly said. "Yesterday, I was saying what a shame it was that a nice pop-up was destroyed, now mine is junk."

The camper was purchased about two years ago and was in perfect condition, according to the family.

The Honda, which had major front-end damage, and the Kompressor, which had front driver's side damage, were towed.

Just feet away

Jim Kennelly said his campsite was 25 feet from where Holly Schultz, 17, of Red Lion, suffered a leg injury at 4:45 p.m. Sunday when a large tree fell during a thunderstorm.

Schultz was transported to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, where she was treated and then released.

Joe Muscato, director of public relations for Knoebels, said the family was offered a cottage at the campground, free of charge, but decided to leave instead.

Park and campground staff assisted in removal of the tree and camper.

SUNBURY - A former substitute teacher for Shamokin Area School District is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial conference next month after deciding not to enter a guilty plea in the case Friday.

Northumberland County First Assistant District Attorney Ann Targonski said Michael S. Zack, 24, of 201 Warsaw St., Marion Heights, was expected to enter a plea Friday, but decided against it after Targonski amended a subsection of one of the charges on the original criminal complaint filed against him that would require him to register as a Megan's Law violator for a minimum of 10 years if he plead guilty to the charge or was convicted of the offense. Targonski said the amendment would not alter sentencing guidelines.

Zack was charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with felonies of sending obscene and other sexual materials and having unlawful contact with a minor, and a misdemeanor of corruption of minors.

The felony offenses each carry a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment and/or $15,000 fine. The corruption of minors charge carries a maximum penalty of five years incarceration and/or $10,000 fine.

At his Sept. 7 pre-trial conference in Northumberland County Court, Zack can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

The defendant waived the charges to court June 26 before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III after his preliminary hearing had been continued four times.

Efforts to reach Zack's attorney, Marc Lieberman, of Elysburg, were unsuccessful late Monday afternoon.

Zack was charged March 15 in connection with incidents that occurred between March 15, 2011, and Oct. 30, 2011, in the east end of the township and Shamokin Area Middle/High school.

Zack is accused of sending approximately 4,300 text messages to two 17-year-old females and two 16-year-old girls, all of whom attended Shamokin Area at the time. Many of the messages depicted sexually graphic material, police said.

Zack, who voluntarily turned himself over to authorities, is free on $20,000 unsecured bail.

He has been ordered by Gembic to avoid all contact with the victims and witnesses in the case and abide by other supervised bail conditions.

Zack was hired as a 180-day substitute teacher in the district in August and terminated by the school board at its December meeting, retroactive to Nov. 16.

BLOOMSBURG - An Atlas women being brought back to prison on a probation violation had a dozen heroin-soaked cotton balls hidden inside her bra, police told a local newspaper.

Police said Kylee Wargo, 23, was seen "fidgeting with her bra" by a corrections office at Columbia County Prison on July 17, The (Bloomsburg) Press Enterprise reported in Saturday's edition.

After denying she was hiding something, a strip search revealed 10 to 12 brownish cotton balls in a cigarette wrapper in her bra, the paper reported.

The story said a needle could be used to extract heroin from the cotton balls.

Wargo and her boyfriend, Daniel Growhoski, 21, of Mount Carmel, had recently been charged with burglary at 62 E. Main St., during which they are accused of taking gaming systems, a laptop computer, a TV and other items.

Wargo, who was involved a theft at a Knoebels Amusement Resort recycling building in 2010, was still on a four-year probation for that incident.

Wago is facing counts of heroin possession and having contraband and paraphernalia at the prison.

SHAMOKIN - A 42-year-old Shamokin man who told police he's killed 16 people is in Northumberland County Prison today after allegedly biting his roommate in the neck, resisting arrest and spitting in the face of Shamokin Police Chief Edward Griffiths early Saturday morning.

Ronald Morgenstern, of 130 E. Dewart St., Apt. 6, was arraigned at about 7 a.m. Saturday by on-call Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on a felony of aggravated assault by a prisoner and misdemeanors of simple assault, resisting arrest, harassment and disorderly conduct relating to disturbances that began at about 4:30 a.m. at his apartment.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Griffiths, Morgenstern is accused of grabbing his roommate, Betty Yost, by the throat and biting her in the neck after Yost refused to give him money. Police said Morgenstern also allegedly smashed a coffee table in the apartment and threw it into a wall.

Upon arriving at the apartment and being informed by Yost about the incident, Griffiths and Cpl. John Brown attempted to take Morgenstern into custody, but he became combative and resisted arrest, police said. Griffiths, who was able to handcuff the defendant, said Morgenstern attempted to pull him down the steps of the apartment and continued to yell and curse at both officers while en route to the police station in the back of a police cruiser.

Griffiths said Morgenstern continued to berate and threaten him and started kicking at him when he opened the door of the police car upon arriving at the station.

The chief said Morgenstern then banged his head several times off a brick wall at the station while claiming he was "mental" and had killed 16 people over his lifetime.

While Griffiths was locking the cell door, he said Morgenstern spit in his face and hair and claimed he was going to "sue." The defendant also is accused of banging on the cell door, berating the officers again and spitting on the cell door and walls and a doorway leading to the cell.

Morgenstern, who has lived in multiple states, has an extensive criminal record, including arrests for manslaughter, robbery, terroristic threats, assault and driving under the influence. But police aren't aware of any connections to homicides.

He was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing this morning before Gembic.

Teen in crash

SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP - A Paxinos teen was uninjured in a crash at 4:38 p.m. on Irish Valley Road.

State police at Stonington report the 16-year-old Paxinos female was traveling west on Irish Valley Road and negotiating a right curve in a 2000 Dodge Dakota truck when it left the road after skidding clockwise, entering the oncoming lane. It continued before leaving the eastbound lane and striking a ditch.

The female was not injured in the crash, but police said she would be cited for a traffic violation.

Purse stolen

MONROE TOWNSHIP - Henrietta Nornhold, of Beavertown, reported to state police at Selinsgrove that at 10:26 a.m. Sunday, while she having her photo taken at the photo studio inside the Wal-Mart department store, someone took a purse Nornhold left laying on a chair. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact state police at 374-8145.

DUI

ELIZABETHVILLE - Gary Lee Laudenslager, 60, of Herndon, was charged with driving under the influence by state police at Lykens following a traffic stop at 1:02 a.m. Monday at the intersection of Route 225 and Monroe Street. Charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Jo Margerum, of Elizabethville.

One-car crash

UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP - No one injured in a one-car crash at 9:35 p.m. Sunday in the area of Route 147 at its intersection with an unnamed street.

State police at Stonington report a 2006 Hyundai Tiburon, driven by Ryan C. Hunt, 25, of Sunbury, was traveling north on Route 147 and negotiating a left curve in the roadway. Police say the Tiburon left the lane of travel and exited the roadway off the northbound shoulder. The vehicle then struck two traffic signs with its front end, then re-entered the road and fled the scene.

Police said that Hunt will be cited for the crash.

Simple assault

SHAMOKIN - Richard Giedosh, 48, of 702 Bear Valley Ave., Shamokin, was charged by Cpl. John Brown with simple assault and harassment involving a domestic disturbance at 11 p.m. July 31.

According to a criminal complaint, Giedosh allegedly punched his wife, Kathy Giedosh, in the face, causing a wound, after a verbal argument about missing medication.

DUI

SNYDERTOWN - Michael A. Pastuszek, 28, of 109 School House Road, Bloomsburg, was charged by Trooper Barry Wooten of state police at Stonington with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to drive in a single lane, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and failure to wear a seat belt.

Police said the charges relate to an incident at 3 a.m. July 8 along Route 4005 in Snydertown.

Police reported Pastuszek had a blood-alcohol content of .218 percent.

Disorderly conduct

SHAMOKIN - Jesse A. Beck, 20, of 41 S. Owl St., Coal Township, was cited by Patrolman William Miner for disorderly conduct for playing music too loud from his vehicle parked at the former skate park on North Rock Street at 6:12 p.m. Wednesday.

Harassment

SHAMOKIN - Randy Taby Jr., 25, of 18 S. Market St., Apt. 5, Shamokin, was cited by Patrolman William Miner for harassment for shoving Melissa Driggers, 20, of 20 N. Diamond St., Shamokin, to the ground at Driggers' residence at 11:12 p.m. Friday.

Public drunkenness

SHAMOKIN - Norman Bohner, 33, of 406 W. Chestnut St., Shamokin, was cited by Patrolman Jarrod Scandle for public drunkenness involving an incident at 11:15 p.m. Saturday at Fifth and Spruce streets.

Eggs thrown

SHAMOKIN - A 17-year-old Elysburg male has been cited by Patrolman Jarrod Scandle for disorderly conduct for throwing eggs at two male bicyclists at Webster and Shamokin streets at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Couch in cemetery

SHAMOKIN - James Neidlinger Jr., 21, of 1538 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, was cited by Cpl. John Brown for scattering rubbish for depositing a couch at Shamokin Cemetery at 4 p.m. July 5.

CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP - A Massachusetts couple and their four grandchildren were safe and smiling as they stood along Hemlock Road Monday morning near Lake Glory Campground, happy to have escaped without injury when their RV and the car it was towing slid off the road and down a 10-foot embankment.

The crash occurred about 10:30 a.m., when Daniel Thompson moved his 31-foot-long R-Vision Condor toward the berm of the narrow road to make room for an oil truck approaching from the other direction, according to Locust Township Police.

Thompson was able to laugh while he recalled how his grandchildren, ages 3 to 7, sat sideways in their car seats after the RV tipped on its side and came to rest in trees. The car had flipped completely to its roof.

The family was heading back to Hyannis, Mass., after a weekend at Knoebels Amusement Resort, which owns the campground about five miles from the park. Knoebels' personnel tried to help make the best of a bad situation, sending a bus and golf cart to the area of the crash to bring the family back to the park while the Thompsons waited for their daughter to make a six-hour trip from Connecticut to pick them up.

"They just did us a favor of spending time at our campground and park," Joe Muscato, director of public relations at Knoebels, said about the family. "We wanted to do what we could to take care of them."

They were provided with a cottage with a phone, a television and air conditioner as a place to "unwind and relax," Muscato said.

No one's fault

Thompson, 62, steered to the right when he saw the oil truck approaching, police said, but his vehicle went off the narrow berm and tilted to its side as it slid down the embankment. Thompson and his wife, Virginia, 62, were wearing their seat belts, and all six passengers exited through the driver side door.

John Brokenshire, assistant township police chief, responded, as did rescue personnel from Valley Chemical Fire Co., Numidia. The driver of the truck, who was not identified by police, stopped and assisted, police said.

"It wasn't the truck driver's fault. They both gave up a little too much of the road," said Patrolman Nick Thorpe, who was on duty at the Locust Township police station Monday afternoon. "The RV was in a bad spot to do so."

No charges will be filed against either driver, he said.

Hemlock Road, only about a half-mile long, connects Eisenhower and Ashton Hollow roads midway between Elysburg and Catawissa.

Helping hand

The scene was cleared at approximately 3:30 p.m. after the RV was pulled back to the road by a tow truck from West End Towing, Bloomsburg.

Thompson said the family came to the area on Friday specifically to have the children enjoy a weekend at Knoebels.

Muscato said Knoebels employees are often repairing customers' flat tires, jumping their stalled cars or helping to repair minor damage to vehicles.

"It's not common for people to flip their vehicles over leaving here," he said, "but it's not out of character for us (to help)."