A Tamaqua man was sentenced to serve up to a year in jail for scuffling with St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus staff as they were treating his wife in the emergency room.

Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin on Oct. 14 sentenced Anthony Richards, 28, to time served to 12 months in jail on a charge of simple assault. He gave Richards credit for the four days he had already served, and granted him immediate parole.Charges of harassment, disorderly conduct and one of the two charges of simple assault were dropped in plea negotiations.Richards was charged by Coaldale police after an incident on Jan. 24.According to police, Richards had brought his wife to the emergency room at about 9:30 p.m., and was asked to leave as she was tended to. But, he told police, he saw them "hurting" her, and went back and was assaulted by staff members.The officer entered the room and saw several staff members attempting to restrain a woman who was kicking, screaming and spitting at them. The woman was Shante Richards, 24. As the officer was taking statements from those in the room, Shante Richards again became combative, biting one of the nurses and spitting at others. She began banging her head off the wall.She was placed in soft restraints and admitted for treatment.Five hospital staff members were treated for their injuries, including some caused by Anthony Richards, who shoved and struck several people as he tried to re-enter the treatment room after being asked to leave.Richards was initially charged with aggravated and simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. The aggravated assault charge was withdrawn.Shante Richards, once released from the hospital, was charged with aggravated and simple assault, making terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and harassment. Her case has yet to be resolved.In another case, Baldwin sentenced Brittni Shaak, 21, of Tremont, to 72 hours to six months in jail after she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.Shaak was also ordered to pay $245 in bench warrant fees and fined $1,000.Baldwin ordered her to attend Highway Alcohol Safety School, submit to random urine screens and participate in outpatient treatment. He also ordered her to perform 10 hours of community service.Shaak was charged with DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia by Rush Township police after a traffic stop on Aug. 13, 2013.