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Lehigh man facing Schuylkill charges

A Lehigh County man, who police say has two indentities, is facing multiple charges in Schuylkill County.

State police at Frackville said George Hoffman Jr., 44, of Breinigsville, is facing the following charges: felony counts of forgery and identity theft and misdemeanor charges of unsworn falsification to authorities, false ID to law enforcement and six summary traffic violations (expired registration, suspended registration, suspended license-DUI related, no insurance, expired inspection and no seat belt).Troopers said on Thursday Hoffman was stopped along Interstate 81 in Kline Township, near the Luzerne County line, for registration violations while operating a 1996 Jeep Cherokee.At the stop Hoffman could not produce a picture identification and verbally told troopers he was Andrew Gartner, 40.Further investigations during the stop through additional law enforcement agencies revealed that Gartner was an alias name, and Hoffman was lying to police about his true identity. Additionally, troopers said, Hoffman was somehow able to secure an official state driver's license in the name of Gartner.Hoffman was placed under arrest and taken into custody. He was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Stephen Bayer, of Tamaqua, and committed to the county prison in Pottsville in lieu of $25,000 straight cash bail.