Criminal court day in the office of District Judge Stephen Bayer of Tamaqua was an extremely busy one on April 21, with three defendants choosing to have their preliminary hearings held, two defendants failing to appear and more than one dozen people electing to waive their hearings to the county level.

The three defendants who had their hearings didn't convince the judge to drop all of their charges. All three cases were bound over for court, although not with all of the charges intact.Brian Paul Jones, 56, of 322 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, was in court on charges of simple assault, criminal trespass and harassment, filed by Tamaqua patrolman Karl Harig. The charges stem from an Oct. 21, 2014, incident. A charge of burglary was dismissed.Jones was released on $10,000 bail.Amy Jo Kranch, 45, of 244 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua, was charged in the Oct. 21, incident along with Jones. Charges of criminal trespass and harassment were bound over for court, while charges of burglary and simple assault were dismissed.She was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.David E. Ritsick, 53, of 314 E. Blaine St., McAdoo, was in court to answer to charges of stalking, harassment and disorderly conduct filed by McAdoo patrolman Lucas Fox. The charges stem from a Feb. 16 incident. All of the charges were held for county court.He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail.Failed to appearEdward L. Rivera, 30, of 447 Hazle St., Tamaqua, was scheduled for a hearing on a charge of conspiracy to commit retail theft, filed by Rush Township Sgt. Duane Frederick. The incident occurred on Oct. 25, 2014.A warrant could be issued for his arrest.Terri L. Kates, 36, of 14 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, had a hearing scheduled on charges of conspiracy to commit retail theft. The charges were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Anthony Stanell in connection with a Feb. 9 incident.A warrant could be issued for her arrest.Cases waived to courtThomas Dennington, 32, of 128 W. Hazard St., Summit Hill, was in court for two separate drug-related cases. He waived his right to hearings on two sets of charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communications facility. The charges stem from Aug. 22, and Sept. 4, 2013, incidents.His bail was modified from $10,000 percentage to $10,000 unsecured in both cases.Philip G. Brinich, 35, of 24 E. Elm St., Tamaqua, was charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit retail theft and retail theft by Rush Township Sgt. Duane Frederick. The charges were filed following a Feb. 6 incident.He was released on his own recognizance.Ashley Balliet, 29, of 104 W. Union St., Tamaqua, was charged in connection with the Brinich case and faces the same charges, also filed by Frederick.She was released on her own recognizance.