News

January 26, 2010

Charged jail guard suspended

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Another Luzerne County prison employee has been suspended without pay due to pending criminal charges.

The county Prison Board voted Monday to suspend prison guard James Yurkovic, effective immediately, pending his adjudication on charges of driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Yurkovic, of Hazleton, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.151 percent – almost twice the state’s legal limit of 0.08 – after he crashed his vehicle the night of June 28 on Laurel Run Road near state Route 115 in Bear Creek Township, according to the arrest affidavit.

A marijuana pipe and 10 pieces of aluminum foil that all tested positive for marijuana residue were also found in his vehicle, the affidavit said.

Prison Capt. John Carey has been suspended without pay since August after the Dallas Township Police Department determined that cocaine and metabolites were present in his blood when he crashed his vehicle on May 24.

Carey pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance and accidents involving damages.

According to the criminal complaint, Carey, driving a truck, struck the rear of a Dodge Neon that he attempted to pass on Route 415. He then traveled into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a BMW. Carey sped away and pulled into the Back Mountain Bowling parking lot because his truck became disabled.

Police allege Carey, of Kingston, had a blood alcohol level of .23 percent after the crash.

Two other prison guards – John Gonda and Jacob Heylek – were also separately charged last year, and both were immediately suspended without pay.

Gonda, of White Haven, was charged in March by the state Office of Attorney General for his alleged role in a $3.6 million drug distribution ring based in Ashley.

The board terminated Gonda last month, after he pleaded guilty to corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy and delivery of a controlled substance. He awaits sentencing.

Heylek, of Shickshinny, was charged in June by state police with allegedly stealing sunglasses and a pair of woman’s underwear from a parked vehicle. Heylek resigned from the prison job in July and has been admitted into the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program.

Staff writer Sheena Delazio contributed to this report.

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