Schuylkill County court
Schuylkill County judges also handled several other cases involving people charged by local police. All were ordered to pay court costs and fees in addition to their sentences.
President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted guilty pleas from four people.Samuel Smolar, 27, of New Ringgold: Charged by Coaldale police with possession of drug paraphernalia on June 10, 2016. He pleaded guilty to the charge, and Baldwin sentenced him to 12 months on probation.Samantha M. McGeehan, 25, of Tamaqua: Charged by Rush Township police with retail theft and receiving stolen property on April 29, 2016.She pleaded guilty to retail theft, and prosecutors dropped the receiving charge.Baldwin sentenced McGeehan to 12 months on probation and to pay $109 restitution.Zachary T. Murphy, 20, of Tamaqua: Charged by Tamaqua police with two counts of harassment on July 18, 2016.He pleaded guilty to one count of harassment; prosecutors dropped a second count.Baldwin fined Murphy $200.Aurelia M. Wilder, 26, of Nesquehoning: Charged by Coaldale police two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one each of driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, driving under suspension and improper turning movements on Feb. 29, 2016.Baldwin deferred sentencing.Judge Russell accepted a guilty plea from a Lansford woman charged with multiple impaired driving violations.Stephanie A. Chapman, 34, of Lansford: Charged by Rush Township police with driving under the influence, careless driving, driving under suspension-DUI related and driving in the wrong lane on June 29, 2014.Chapman pleaded guilty to all of the charges except careless driving, which prosecutors dropped.Russell sentenced her to 100 days to 23 months in jail, and fined her $1,525.Russell also ordered Chapman to perform 30 hours of community service, and to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.In other cases, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin revoked a Tamaqua man's probation and sent him to jail.Carl F. Rex Jr., 42, was charged by Rush Township police with conspiracy, theft by deception and receiving stolen property on March 22, 2014.He pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 17, 2016, and Dolbin sentenced him to 23 months on probation and to pay $169.35 restitution.But Rex violated the terms of his probation, and Dolbin sent him to jail for three to 23 months. Dolton also ordered Rex to undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and follow through with any recommended treatment.