Hazle Twp. man sentenced to decades in prison for attempted homicide

WILKES-BARRE — A Hazle Township man who was found guilty in February of attempting to kill another man was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison Tuesday.

For George Salata, 60, the lengthy prison term is likely equivalent to a life sentence.

Salata was found guilty after a brief, two-day trial. He was accused of shooting Michael Gontz in the face with a shotgun in January 2017 in Hazleton. Prosecutors say the shooting occurred after a dispute over Gontz’s girlfriend.

After two hours of deliberation, jurors found Salata guilty of one count of attempted homicide and two felony counts of aggravated assault.

Salata’s attorney, Allyson Leigh Kacmarski, asked for his sentences to run concurrently, while prosecutor Thomas Hogans asked for a stiffer term, between 25 and 50 years in state prison.

For his part, Salata declined to address the court.

Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough sentenced Salata to spend 240 to 480 months, or 20 to 40 years, in a state prison on the attempted homicide count. Vough also sentenced him to 48 to 96 months in prison on the aggravated assault counts, but those sentences will run concurrently with the other term.

He was given credit for time served since his arrest.

Gontz, who is still recovering from the shooting, said he was happy with the punishment, indicating he’s glad the case is over.

According to prosecutors, Gontz suffered life-threatening injuries, requiring numerous surgeries to remove shotgun pellets from his face.

Gontz told police the shooting happened after an altercation. He said Salata had been obsessing over Gontz’s girlfriend.

Salata was initially identified as a suspect after police followed footprints in the snow from the scene of the shooting to a nearby apartment building on North Locust Street. Salata was eventually identified by two men, who told police he had a number of guns in his apartment.

After the sentencing, Salata was transported to a state prison to begin his time.

George Salata, of Hazle Township, said nothing to a reporter on his way out of the Luzerne County Courthouse. Salata learned Tuesday he would be spending between 20 and 40 years in state prison for the attempted homicide of Michael Gontz.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_salata-1.jpg.optimal.jpgGeorge Salata, of Hazle Township, said nothing to a reporter on his way out of the Luzerne County Courthouse. Salata learned Tuesday he would be spending between 20 and 40 years in state prison for the attempted homicide of Michael Gontz.