A Philadelphia man who threatened to shoot another man in the face following incidents at the county courthouse, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday in the county court.

He was one of four defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Jim Thorpe arrest

John F. Blaney, 21, pleaded to one count of terroristic threats for an incident on Feb. 21, 2020, at the courthouse.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Jim Thorpe patrolman Ryan Poeldnurk at 10:26 a.m. Feb. 21, Poeldnurk was dispatched to the courthouse regarding an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Upon arrival, he saw Sgt. Brian Hawk of the Sheriff’s department following a man in a green jacket. He pulled his vehicle over toward the courthouse parking lot and spoke to Blaney. Poeldnurk asked Blaney if he would give the keys back to the owner, and he said no. He then detained Blaney, and the owner came over to the police.

Blaney told Poeldnurk that he was going to shoot the owner in the face. The owner was standing behind Poeldnurk and heard him. The owner then provided Poeldnurk with a written statement stating that while in the courtroom, Blaney made a gesture of slicing his throat with his hand in front of several sheriff deputies and himself.

Blaney was read his Miranda Warnings but refused to fill out a written statement.

He was then charged and placed in the county prison, unable to post bail.

Serfass accepted the plea but deferred sentencing.

Other pleas

Ryan Wallace Atwater, 37, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge on Sept. 6, 2019, following a vehicle stop in Penn Forest Township.

Serfass placed him on probation for two years and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and render 100 hours of community service.

Atwater was scheduled to enter a plea in a second case but requested a jury trial.

Shane Schiano, 42, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence. He was arrested on Feb. 29, 2020, by Lehighton police along Route 443.

Sentencing was deferred so Schiano can obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.

Kimberly A. Knight, 50, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property. She was arrested Sept. 24, 2019, by Lehighton police for an incident at the General Dollar Store along North First Street. She admitted taking items from the store without paying for them. She was caught on store surveillance. A retail theft charge was dropped in a plea deal.

Sentencing was deferred. Her plea was conduct via video from the county prison.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.