Crime & Courts

December 6, 2009

Police Blotter

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported Lester Webster, of Kingston, was at 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave. for his first meeting with adult probation when he allegedly started cursing and yelling at bystanders walking through the lobby of the building around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Webster was warned to stop and refused, police said. He then allegedly threatened to burn someone’s house down. He was charged with disorderly conduct, a probation detainer was placed on Webster due to the new charge and he was taken to the county prison.

WEST PITTSTON – State police have charged the owner of a vehicle registration service with altering records.

Kelly Jean Danko-Franti, 47, owner of Kelly’s Auto Tag Service on Wyoming Avenue, Exeter, was charged with two counts of tampering with public records and a single count of forged or counterfeit documents. The charges were filed with District Judge Joseph Carmody in West Pittston.

According to the criminal complaint: Police allege Danko-Franti had a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to process vehicle titles, registrations, sales tax and the issuance of temporary registration cards and plates. PennDOT terminated the contract on June 24 after an audit allegedly showed the company had 218 title and registration applications without collecting fees and taxes owed to the state.

Police allege Danko-Franti falsified an entry date on a vehicle-transfer application after the contract was terminated.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16 before Carmody.

HANOVER TWP. – Police said they are investigating a home burglary on Inman Avenue that occurred Thursday while the homeowner was shopping.

Police said Maryellen Cummings left her house at about 11:50 a.m. to go shopping. When she returned at about 1 p.m., she noticed a window on her door was smashed.

Cummings reported jewelry was stolen.

Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact Hanover Township police at 825-1254.

HANOVER TWP. – Township police said Jerry Mizenko, of Green Street, reported someone had cut several Christmas inflatable decorations that were in front of his yard around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hanover Township Police Department at 825-1254.

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