Crime & Courts

July 4, 2008

COURT BRIEFS

SCRANTON – A Hanover Township man was charged by a federal grand jury on Wednesday with receiving child pornography.

Stephen Humanik, 22, was arrested for allegedly committing the offense between February and April.

According to Martin Carlson, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Humanik’s charge stems from an investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police and the Scranton Police Department. Carlson said Humanik faces a five-year mandatory minimum sentence and up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

WILKES-BARRE – In court papers filed Thursday, attorney Demetrius Fannick again asked Luzerne County Court to modify the sentence of Joseph Solomon.

According to court papers, Fannick asked that Solomon be allowed to serve the sentence he is now serving concurrent with a sentence issued on June 5 by Court of Common Pleas President Judge Mark Ciavarella. Fannick asked that the sentence be reduced to five to 10 years.

Ciavarella sentenced Solomon to 10 to 20 years in state prison on charges including aggravated assault and robbery. Solomon led police on a three-day chase last year that resulted in injuries to a police officer and a woman, and caused $15,000 in vehicle damage and medical expenses.

Fannick filed the original motion on June 16, asking that Solomon’s sentence be modified because the court didn’t give “sufficient weight” to Solomon’s mental-heath and substance-abuse condition, or to the testimony of Dr. Richard Fischbein, who offered a written report and testimony regarding his psychiatric evaluation of Solomon.

In court papers filed Thursday, Fannick said Solomon’s sentence should be shortened because he has had no misconduct during his incarceration; regularly attends alcoholics and narcotics anonymous meetings; attends Catholic Mass and communion services; participates in weight lifting sessions; has signed up and is waiting for vocational education classes, colleges correspondence courses and an education class on tuberculosis; is on a waiting list for a therapeutic program; and has obtained and maintains employment in the maintenance department within the correctional facility.

Fannick said that because of Solomon’s changed attitude and determination, Solomon “demonstrates his desire and ability to conform once he has been placed in a situation free from drugs and other substances.”

WILKES-BARRE – A Wilkes-Barre man will spend one to 3 � years in state prison after being sentenced on several drug-related charges Wednesday.

Tyrone McMullins, 59, pleaded guilty in March to four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility. Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Ciavarella sentenced McMullins.

According to court papers:

McMullins sold suspected crack cocaine to a confidential informant several times over a three-month period last year. In August, a search warrant was executed for McMullins’ home on Sullivan Street, where a small amount of marijuana was found, along with a large quantity of single-edge razor blades and a container filled with sandwich baggies.

WILKES-BARRE – An Exeter man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months to three years in state prison on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal attempt and a firearms charge stemming from an August incident.

Tracy Sessoms, 30, was sentenced Wednesday by Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Ciavarella.

Sessoms was arrested on the charges after she sold suspected cocaine to a police informant. During an exchange between Sessoms and the informant, an officer pulled over a vehicle in which Sessoms was a passenger. During a search of the car, police found an unloaded firearm wedged in the back seat that turned out to be stolen. Another male was also arrested. Sessoms received 316 days credit for time served.

WILKES-BARRE – A former pharmacist whom Pittston police said stole more than $33,000 from the business waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Monday.

Robert Weidow, 41, of Bangor, waived a single count of theft to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

According to the criminal complaint:

Angelo Greco, owner of Medicap Pharmacy, South Main Street, Pittston, told police in December 2006 that Weidow, a former employee, had stolen $33,113 from the business from January 2006 to December 2006.

Weidow told police he took the money to pay credit-card bills, the criminal complaint says.

WILKES-BARRE – A 22-year-old man who Pittston police said is a registered sex offender waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Monday on charges he failed to register his residence with authorities.

Phillip Reilly, last known address as 269 N. Main St., Pittston, waived two counts of failure to comply with registration requirements to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

According to the criminal complaint:

State police Megan’s Law Unit in Harrisburg notified Pittston police on June 20 that Reilly, a sexual offender, failed to register the North Main Street address with state police at Wyoming.

Police learned Reilly obtained a Pennsylvania driver’s license on Feb. 26 listing the North Main Street address, and had been living at the residence since December, the criminal complaint says.

Reilly is currently not listed on the state police Megan’s Law Web site.

WILKES-BARRE – A city woman who Wilkes-Barre police said propositioned an undercover officer for sex waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Monday.

Melissa Wisnewski, 27, of South Franklin Street, waived chares of prostitution, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

According to the criminal complaint:

Wisnewski entered a vehicle being used by an undercover officer that stopped at South Main and South streets at about 5 p.m. May 16. Wisnewski offered to perform a sex act in exchange for money, the criminal complaint says. Police said Wisnewski was found with two syringes.

WILKES-BARRE – A woman from Adamston who Kingston police said was found asleep inside a residence where she had no permission to be is headed to county court.

Kathy Ann Schadler, 42, waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Wednesday on charges of criminal trespass, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police were investigating a man who was sitting on a porch of an apartment on Zerby Avenue at about 3:20 a.m. June 24. Police entered the apartment and found Schadler lying on the floor. Police said they found heroin inside a bag that belonged to Schadler.

WILKES-BARRE – A 50-year-old man who Hanover Township police said forced his way into a tavern waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Wednesday.

Bernard P. Bienick of Hanover Township waived a burglary charge to Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. Prosecutors withdrew charges of criminal trespass and criminal attempt to commit theft against Bienick.

Police said Bienick forced his way into the Big House Bar on Wilkes-Barre Street at about 3 a.m. June 21.

WILKES-BARRE – A man who Pittston police said smashed a bottle in front of two people walking a dog pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct during a preliminary hearing in Central Court on Wednesday.

James Wardell, 35, of Curtis Street, Pittston, was fined $243 for his guilty plea, according to court records.

Prosecutors withdrew a public drunkenness charge against Wardell.

Pittston police charged Wardell with throwing a bottle at two people who were walking a dog on South Main Street on June 23.

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