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.