A number of defendants scheduled to appear before Tamaqua District Judge Stephen Bayer on Jan. 5, to answer to criminal charges, elected to waive their preliminary hearings to the Schuylkill County court level.

Nethaniel P. Shea, 33, of 1398 West Penn Pike, New Ringgold, had three separate cases scheduled for preliminary hearings before Bayer.The first case dates back to Feb. 10, 2015, when he was charged with making false statements to law enforcement. The charges were filed by trooper Alan Zulick of the Frackville barracks.Bail was reduced from 10 percent of $10,000 to $10,000 unsecured.Shea was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia on July 19, 2015. The charges were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Thomas Rodgers.Bail was reduced from 10 percent of $10,000 to $10,000 unsecured.Tamaqua patrolman Anthony Stanell arrested Shea on July 30, 2015, charging him with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.Again, bail was reduced from 10 percent of $10,000 to $10,000 unsecured.Justin D. Startzel, 26, of 120 Hunter St., Tamaqua, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to use his low beams. He was charged by McAdoo patrolman Lucas Fox after a July 5, 2015, traffic stop.He was released on his own recognizance.Nathan Ross, 31, of 911 West St., Nescopeck, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, careless driving, driving without rear lights and failure to keep right. The charges were filed by Rush Township patrolman Douglas Litwhiler after a Nov. 4 traffic stop when officers found him to be in possession of 120 bags of heroin.He was released on $5,000 bail.Annette M. Williams, 30, of 92 Rhume St., Nesquehoning, charged with passing a bad check by Tamaqua Cpl. Henry Woods. The charges were filed after a May 1, 2015, incident.She was released on her own recognizance.Colleen Marie Hodge, 52, of 11 Main St., Junedale, had two hearings scheduled.Tamaqua patrolman Karl Harig charged her with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, reckless driving, careless driving, hit and run, and being involved in an accident to an unattended vehicle or property. The accident happened on Oct. 9, 2015, after she left a Tamaqua bar.Recognizance bail was set on those charges.Minutes after the accident was reported, Hodge was taken into custody and transported to St. Luke's Hospital-Miners Campus in Coaldale for blood tests. At the hospital she became unruly, kicking Harig and a hospital security guard. For those actions Harig charged her with simple assault, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.She was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.Katrina Marie Corra, 22, of 6 Rear Fourth St., Kelayres, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, failure to keep right, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving at an unsafe speed, fleeing law enforcement, reckless driving and resisting arrest. She was charged by Kline Township patrolman Joseph David after a Nov. 4, 2015, incident.She was released on her own recognizance.Terrence Love, 51, of 27 Mauch Chunk St., Tamaqua, was charged with making terroristic threats and simple assault after an Oct. 31 incident. The charges were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Harig. Bail was reduced from $25,000 straight to $25,000 unsecured.