RIDGWAY — Multiple defendants appeared before President Judge Richard A. Masson in the Elk County Court of Common Pleas during Monday’s return day to enter pleas in active cases against them.
George C. Bowers pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He was sentenced to 18 months of probation, assessed a $300 fine and ordered to undergo an anger management assessment.
Scotty R. Fidler pleaded guilty in three cases to a total of one felony charge of firearm ownership-duty of other persons and two felony charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition.
For the first charge of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, Fidler was sentenced to 9 months to 24 months, less one day, of incarceration at the Elk County Prison in Ridgway. He was given credit for time served since April 18, 2016. He was also assessed a $500 fine, a $250 fee for DNA testing and $300 in restitution.
For the second theft by unlawful taking or disposition charge, Fidler was again sentenced to 9 months to 24 months, less one day, of incarceration in Elk County Prison. He will receive credit for time served since May 5 of this year. He was also assessed a $500 fine.
For the firearm ownership charge, Fidler was sentenced to 36 months of probation and assessed a $500 fine and $490 in restitution.
All three sentences will run concurrent.
Curt P. Gosnell Jr. had one case continued, while he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft by unlawful taking in another.
He was sentenced to 63 days to 24 months, less one day, of incarceration in Elk County Prison. He will receive credit for time served of 63 days, but must be paroled from prison into a short-term inpatient substance abuse treatment facility.
Gosnell was also assessed a $300 fine and $436.50 in restitution.
Rosalind A. Gursky pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. She was sentenced to four days to 12 months of incarceration in Elk County Prison, although she was given credit for time served of four days.
She was also assessed a $300 fine and ordered to complete an anger management assessment and complete the Parents as Teachers program with Dickinson Center Inc.
Benjamin E. Meyer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation, assessed a $300 fine and assessed $1,100 in restitution.
In a second case, Meyer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation, which will run concurrent to the first sentence. He was also assessed a $300 fine and $146 in restitution.
Jeremiah M. Schuler pleaded guilty to a felony charge of criminal conspiracy to commit possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 21 months to 60 months of incarceration at the State Diagnostic and Classification Center in Pittsburgh.
Schuler, who is ineligible for the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive and the motivational boot camp program, was given credit for time served since Dec. 23, 2015. He was also assessed a $1,000 fine and ordered to submit a DNA sample for testing, although he won’t have to pay the $250 fee.
Schuler’s supervision while on parole will be determined by the state parole board.
Austin R. Servidea pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation, assessed a $150 fine and assessed a $100 contribution to the substance abuse education fund.
Shane C. Vogt pleaded guilty to a summary offense of harassment. He was sentenced to 90 days of probation and assessed a $100 fine.
Vogt was also admitted into the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program in another case.
Also being admitted into the county’s ARD program were Jeremy M. Annis, Cody J. DeStephano, Paul D. Goetz, Lance M. Hasney, Matthew W. Haviland, Shane A. Meyer, Ethan Severance and John M. Wildnauer.
For those individuals found guilty, the cost of prosecution was assessed, and for those on probation or parole, a $35 monthly supervision fee was also assessed.
While the above individuals pleaded guilty to charges in their cases, several defendants who were scheduled for call of the list chose not to enter a guilty plea, opting instead to proceed to trial.
Call of the list represents the last opportunity that a defendant has to petition the court to accept a negotiated plea from the district attorney.
The defendants can still enter a guilty plea, but a plea after the call of the list appearance would be an open plea to the highest rated offense against them, and the punishment would be up to the discretion of the judge.
Jamie L. Desantis did not enter a guilty plea and will proceed to trial on a felony charge of burglary; a felony charge of criminal trespass; a misdemeanor charge of theft by unlawful taking or disposition; and a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property.
William C. Dilly did not enter a plea and will proceed to trial on a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property.
Danielle R. Himes did not enter a guilty plea and will proceed to trial on a felony charge of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance; a felony charge of possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance; three misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance; and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Gary A. Jones did not enter a guilty plea and will proceed to trial on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia; a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest or other law enforcement; a summary offense of disorderly conduct-creating hazardous or offensive conditions; and a summary offense of public drunkenness.
Finally, several defendants had their cases continued for various reasons.
William J. Barnhart had his case continued until the November return day.
Jason M. Parks had his case continued until December for a competency assessment.
Misty J. Reed had her case continued until the November return day.
Kyle R. Vanalstine had his call of the list appearance continued until the December return day.
Tara A. Veley had her case continued until the November return day.
Elk County District Attorney Shawn T. McMahon represented the commonwealth in each of the cases presented before Masson on Monday.
