SUNBURY - A 25-year-old Coal Township man charged with multiple theft and drug offenses was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to complete four years of the county drug court program, with the first three months being served on house arrest.
Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage imposed the four-year intermediate punishment on Ryan J. Thomas, of 1213 W. Walnut St., who also was ordered to pay a $500 drug court administration fee, various other costs and restitution to several victims.
Thomas, who was represented by Shamokin attorney Vincent V. Rovito Jr., was sentenced after pleading guilty to felonies of burglary and criminal trespass, and misdemeanors of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft by unlawful taking and unauthorized use of a vehicle relating to six different criminal complaints filed against him by Coal Township police and state police.
All other charges were not prosecuted.
Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney Melissa Norton prosecuted the case for the commonwealth.
Thomas, who is free on unsecured bail, told the judge he understood the ramifications of entering the guilty plea and the penalties he faces if he breaks the law again.
Thomas was charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with felonies of burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanors of theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly breaking into the home of Loretta and James Buggy, 1901 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, at 11:20 p.m. Aug. 11, and stealing $198 and a prescription pill bottle containing Ativan.
He was charged by Brennan with two misdemeanor counts of theft and one count of receiving stolen property for allegedly participating in the theft of $1,500 worth of tools and a CD player from a car owned by James Conbeer parked in the 900 block of West Juniper Street between 7:30 and 11 p.m. Aug. 14. He and a co-defendant took the stolen goods to sell at a Shamokin pawn shop, police said.
Thomas was charged by Brennan with possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia after he overdosed Oct. 20 at his home, police said.
The defendant was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Jason Adams with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass. He is accused of removing two stain-glass windows from a vacant property at 1301 W. Walnut St. owned by Stephen Slodysko and selling them to Odds and Ends Antiques and Collectibles in Shamokin.
Police said the crimes were committed between Aug. 1 and Aug. 27.
Thomas was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn with unauthorized use of a vehicle owned by Tyler Griffiths that was reported stolen Aug. 12 from Mulberry and Poplar streets.
He also was charged by Trooper Thomas Leib of state police at Stonington with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, failure to display a driver's license and failure to wear a seat belt involving an Aug. 12 incident on Route 2044 in Zerbe Township, approximately one-half mile south of Trevorton.
Thomas was ordered by Sacavage to make $200 restitution to Slodysko, $198 restitution to the Buggys, $474.85 restitution to Conbeer and nominal restitution to Griffiths.