Crime & Courts

July 3, 2009

COURT BRIEFS

WILKES-BARRE – A 20-year-old Hazleton man was sentenced Thursday to two years, three months to four years, six months in prison on charges he discharged a firearm at a fight in downtown Hazleton last April.

Joshua Carlo-Soto, of Vine Street, was sentenced by Luzerne County President Judge Chester Muroski.on charges of receiving stolen property, propulsion of missiles onto roadways, reckless endangerment and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

According to court records, on April 2, Carlo-Soto was involved in a fight on Laurel Street where other individuals brought bats.

Police said Carlo-Soto shot a .380-caliber handgun into the air to stop the fight, and that the groups separated.

When police apprehended Carlo-Soto, they found five small bags of marijuana, and learned Carlo-Soto had purchased the handgun for $150 on the street.

WILKES-BARRE – A man accused by city police of attempting to steal a vehicle waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Wednesday.

John Evans, 18, of Hanover Street, Wilkes-Barre, waived a single count of criminal attempt to commit theft to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of possessing instruments of crime and criminal mischief against Evans.

City police accused Evans of attempting to steal a vehicle in the area of 40 Alexander St. on June 22, according to the criminal complaint.

WILKES-BARRE – A homeless man accused by city police of stealing money from a woman’s purse waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Wednesday.

John Marino, 40, waived a single count of theft to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

City police accused Marino of stealing $150 from a purse while he was being given a ride to a homeless shelter on April 20, according to the criminal complaint.

WILKES-BARRE – A man accused by Kingston police of possessing syringes and stealing two candy bars from a store waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Wednesday.

David P. Kostrzewski, 25, of Main Street, Edwardsville, waived charges of possession with intent to deliver drug paraphernalia, possession of drug paraphernalia and retail theft to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Police charged Kostrzewski of allegedly stealing two candy bars from the Turkey Hill on Main Street on Nov. 13. Police said they found syringes in his pockets.

WILKES-BARRE – A man and his girlfriend accused by Butler Township police of stealing jewelry from his mother waived their rights to preliminary hearings in Central Court on Wednesday.

Thomas Martin III, 26, and Anna Weaver, 25, both from Butler Township, waived charges of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Township police accused the two of stealing jewelry from Martin’s mother’s residence in Drums and selling the items at a pawn shop in Wilkes-Barre between May 21 and June 17, according to the criminal complaints.

WILKES-BARRE – A woman charged in what Police Chief Gerard Dessoye called the largest heroin seizure in the city’s history waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Thursday.

Jasmine M. Hutchins, 29, of Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre, waived five counts of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of communication facility.

City police allege in arrest records they seized approximately 3,250 heroin packets with an estimated street value of $65,000 from her apartment at 228 Scott St. on June 24.

Police allege Hutchins delivered heroin on Pine Street, near her residence, several times in June.

WILKES-BARRE – A woman accused by city police of drunken driving waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Thursday.

Tina Leslie Fedo, 38, of Kingston, waived two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, and one count each of possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of endangering the welfare of children, resisting arrest and restraint systems against Fedo.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police stopped Fedo on evidence of drunken driving on North River Street on June 24. Police said they found an unbuckled child in her vehicle.

Fedo claimed she was fleeing a home on Second Street, Plains Township, where she was allegedly assaulted by Lawrence Casey, 22, of Ashley, the criminal complaint says.

Plains Township police charged Casey with simple assault and harassment. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Central Court on July 22.

WILKES-BARRE – Luzerne County prosecutors withdrew charges of simple assault and harassment against Leigh Claire Gill, 28, of Foster Township, during a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Thursday.

State police at Hazleton accused Gill of assaulting a pregnant woman at a home on North Buck Mountain Road, Foster Township, on June 20.

WILKES-BARRE – A district judge during a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Monday dismissed simple assault and harassment charges against Joseph Holland, 39, of Pittston.

Pittston police accused Holland of assaulting a woman at his residence on May 25, according to the criminal complaint.

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