The man suspected of causing an arson at the Hometown Commons Wal-Mart on Feb. 18 was in the court of District Judge Steven Bayer last Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Jonathan L. Maldonado, 20, of 545 Garibaldi Court, Hazleton, waived all of the charges filed against him to the next criminal session in Schuylkill County Court.Maldonado allegedly used a can of "silly string" to cause a fire in an area near the garden center at the superstore in Hometown. The 2:25 a.m. incident sent shoppers and store personnel fleeing into a snowstorm and freezing temperatures.Maldonado was charged with three felony counts of arson, reckless burning, dangerous burning, causing a catastrophe, failure to prevent a catastrophe, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment by Rush Township Police Sgt. Duane Frederick.Maldonado was released on $50,000 bailChristopher L. Albertson, 34, of 938 Walnut St., Freeland, was in district court on charges filed by Frederick in connection with an April 17, 2013, incident.Albertson had been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. The burglary, conspiracy and trespass charges were withdrawn, with the others waived to county court.Albertson was released on $50,000 bail.Jarrad Profit, 31, of 18 W. Third St., Hazleton, had charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license and speeding dismissed.The charges were filed by McAdoo patrolman Steven Homanko after an Aug. 10, 2013, traffic stop.Cody Pehala, 21, of 12 Wyndgate Blvd., Drums, waived charges of driving under the influence to court, while charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without rear lights were withdrawn.The charges stem from a Sept. 21, 2013, incident and were filed by Rush Township patrolman Adam Sinton.Pehala was released on his own recognizance.Heather Lee Loar, 34, of 137 W. Fell St., Summit Hill, waived her right to a preliminary hearing on charges stemming from a June 26, 2013, incident in Rush Township. Charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, disorderly conduct and disobeying the restrictions on alcohol were filed by Sinton.Loar was released on her own recognizance.Plutarco A. Abreu, 55, of 947 Washington St., Reading, also waived his preliminary hearing. He was charged with DUI, careless driving, following too closely and driving at an unsafe speed. The charges were filed by Sinton after a Nov. 10, 2013, incident in Rush Township.Abreu was released on his own recognizance.John Paulino, 27, of 635 N. James St., Hazleton, was in court on charges of manufacture/possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without rear lights and DUI of Metabolite.The charges were all waived to court and were filed by Sinton after a Jan. 6, 2013, incident in Rush Township.Paulino was released on $10,000 bail.Kelly F. Gothard, 37, of 238 N. Lehigh St., Tamaqua, waived to court charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia to court. She was charged by Kline Township Patrolman James Patterson on Dec. 18, 2013.She was released on her own recognizance.Michael Verbitsky, 44, of 309 E. Chapel St., Hazleton, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI of a controlled substance, failure to stop at a stop sign, failure to use required turn signals and DUI of Metabolite. The charges were filed by McAdoo patrolman Homanko after a Feb. 16 incident.Verbitsky was released on $25,000 bond.Corina M. Oboril, 22, of 50 W. Madison Ave., West Hazleton, was in court to answer to charges of possession with intent to deliver, tampering with evidence and possession of a controlled substance.The delivery charge was withdrawn by the arresting officer, Homanko, with the other two charges waived to county court. The incident took place on Sept. 5, 2013.She was released on $25,000 bail.Lisa E. Serafine, 53, of 128 Mahanoy Ave., Hometown, waived charges of retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit retail theft to county court.She was charged by Rush Township Sgt. Frederick following a Sept. 9, 2013, incident.She was released on $500 bail.James Edward Gilson, 19, of Sunbury, failed to appear for his hearing on charges of defiant trespass and retail theft, filed by Tamaqua patrolman Anthony Stanell.The charges stem from a Dec. 15, 2013, incident and were bound over for court trial.A warrant could be issued for Gilson's arrest due to his failure to appear.