Bench warrants

Bench warrant hearings were held by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin.Ethan C. Madiera, 22, Kutztown, had his bench warrant lifted and bail modified to $5,000 unsecured bail. He wa charged by West Penn Township Patrolman Jason Lorah, with burglary of a home at 12 Spirit Court, New Ringgold, on Feb. 18, 2011. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest last Feb. 2 when he failed to appear to select a jury for his trial. He was arrested on Feb. 8 at his home in Kutztown.Tiffany M. Jadus, 23, Shenandoah, had her bench warrant dissolved and bail modified to $2,500 percentage cash. A bench warrant was issued last Oct. 17 for failure to appear at a court hearing. She was arrested last Oct. 25 at her Shenandoah address. Jadus faces charges filed by Patrolman Kirk A. Kirkland, of theft of personal property belonging to Philip Alcaraz, 310 W. Cherry St. on Aug. 4, 2011.Michael Fickinger, 18, Ashland, had the bench warrant dissolved and bail modified to $10,000 percentage cash. A bench warrant was issued last Sept. 12 when he failed to show for a preliminary hearing before a district justice and was arrested Sept. 21 at his resident's. He was charged by Chief Adam J. Bernodin Jr., when theft of $572.32 from his father's bank account.Archie Dominic Ciccanti, 32, Pottsville, had his bench warrant lifted and he was recommitted to the county prison without bail. He faces charges filed by Pottsville Cpl. Mark D. O'Toole, of theft of leased property valued at $1,348.88 from Aaron's Leasing Company, Pottsville, and retail theft of a vacuum cleaner valued at $399 from Walmart Store, Saint Clair. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest last Sept. 26 for failing to appear at a court hearing and he was arrested on Oct. 3 at the Market Square Apartments, 12th Street, Pottsville.Changes pleaKelly Knepper, 41, of 210 Hunter St., Tamaqua, had filed an appeal from a summary conviction by a district justice to a charge of driving while her operating privileges were suspended. She withdrew the appeal and accepted the guilty plea.Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin imposed a sentence of 60 day probationary period in the Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) with the sentence to be effective Monday, Dec. 3, and pay fines and costs imposed by the district justice which was a $50 fine plus $96.50 costs. Knepper was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Michael J. Hobbs, Tamaqua Police.In another hearing on a summary appeal from a district justice's ruling, James P. Burke, 53, of 508 N. Coal St., Shenandoah, was found not guilty by Judge John E. Domalakes of the charge of following too closely another vehicle on SR61 in Blythe Township and his fine of $25 and $86 costs are returned to him. The Commonwealth presented no witnesses as the arresting officer, Trooper Arthur F. Wink Jr., failed to appear for the hearing.Dismiss chargesDistrict Attorney Karen Byrnes Noon filed motions to court to dismiss criminal charges against two defendants because restitutions were paid in full and the victims did not wish to continue with prosecution and President Judge William E. Baldwin granted the motions.Charges of passing a bad check was dismissed against Michael S. Harris, 49, of Williamstown, because he made good the check for $342.18 to Klinger and Stehr, of Valley View, Hegins Township, for repair work on his garage.Gary Karpovich, 48, of Shenandoah, had charges of criminal mischief and public drunkenness dismissed after he paid West Street Pub, Shenandoah, $450 in damages to the front door. According to information filed to court by the arresting officer, Patrolman Christopher Zuber, Karpovich punched the glass in the door smashing it on his way out after the bartender refused to serve him.Although the charges against the two defendants were dismissed the court ordered they pay the costs of prosecution.