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JOHN DECKER jdecker@leader.net
Friday, February 04, 2000 Page: 7A
WILKES-BARRE – It appears the flu and stress stemming from a planned
family gathering were major factors in Joseph Tice’s monthlong return to
prison.
Tice, who pleaded guilty last year to involuntary manslaughter in
connection with the Feb. 14, 1999, drowning of 2 1/2-year-old Dominique
Thomas, was arrested Jan. 2 after a domestic dispute with his parents.
Tice was cited with harassment and returned to the Luzerne County
Correctional Facility for violating his parole.
Michael Boyle, Tice’s stepfather, originally told Wright Township police
that Tice punched him during an altercation at the family’s South Mountain
Boulevard home.
But at Tice’s bail revocation hearing on Thursday, Boyle told a different
story.
He said his original statement was clouded because he was taking flu
medication. He said he and his wife were suffering from the flu the day of the
altercation.
Several other factors also added to the tension, he said.
His wife, Sylvia, was preparing a meal for several relatives when a small
child became ill at the dining room table that had just been set.
On Thursday, Boyle said he slapped Tice in the head during an argument and
Tice fell to the ground. As Tice stood up, Boyle was struck in the head.
Initially, Boyle believed Tice punched him. Now Boyle believes he was
struck by Tice’s head as Tice stood up.
After being struck, Boyle called 911.
“It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances. We were all stressed out
and sick,” Boyle told Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas
Burke.
When asked if she would want her son to return to her home, Sylvia Boyle
responded, “Definitely.”
Despite the apparent misunderstanding, Burke revoked Tice’s parole. The
judge decided Tice violated a parole rule that states a defendant “shall not
behave in a manner that threatens or presents a danger to yourself or
others.”
Tice was scheduled to be released from the Luzerne County Correctional
Facility on Thursday, but will remain under court supervision until August,
roughly three months longer than his May 18 maximum release date.
Tice seemed confused by the decision. “I don’t understand what I did
wrong.”
Burke advised Tice to separate himself from any future situation that might
result in a physical confrontation.
Tice lived at his parent’s house since his Oct. 18 release from prison. He
was released after serving six months for involuntary manslaughter in
connection with Thomas’ death.
Thomas’ mother, Tamira Chapman, also was charged with involuntary
manslaughter and other offenses and is awaiting trial. Police said Thomas
drowned in a bathtub while Tice was baby-sitting.
Tice faces a court hearing before District Justice Ronald Swank, Wright
Township, concerning the summary harassment charge filed by police. That
hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Feb. 15.
Call Decker at 829-7222.