SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants ordered to appear for plea court June 3 in Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.
n Daniel Clayton Dietz, 35, of 1741 Pulaski Ave., Coal Township, waived to court two counts each of delivering heroin and possession with intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
The charges filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano relate an April 25 incident in the 500 block of East Spurzheim Street.
n James Hartman Jr., 18, of 148-150 E. Cameron St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for six months.
An additional charge of possession of a controlled substance was withdrawn.
Hartman was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II with possessing Clonazepam, marijuana, a marijuana smoking pipe, a marijuana water bong and a pack of Zig-Zag rolling papers March 30 at his residence.
n Luther L. McNeil Jr., 22, an inmate at SCI-Coal Township, was held for court on a charge of aggravated harassment by a prisoner involving a Feb. 4 incident at the state prison.
Trooper David Myers of state police at Stonington, who filed the charge, reported McNeil allegedly threw a cup of liquid, suspected to be urine, at correctional officer James Heistand while the officer was retrieving McNeil's food tray. The liquid struck Heistand's face, neck and upper torso.
n Brandon Shane Herb, 23, an inmate at SCI-Frackville and formerly of Shamokin, waived to court charges of criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, driving without proper registration, driving without a license, driving without insurance, careless driving and operating a vehicle without proper inspection.
Herb, who was arraigned on the charges at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday by Gembic, is charged by Trooper Barry Wooten of state police at Stonington with stealing a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier registered to Mary Ebersole from Railroad Street in Trevorton before parking it along Route 225 in the village when it ran out of gas. Police said Herb then stole a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta owned by Nicole Snyder.
Police said the thefts occurred Aug. 30.
Police reported Herb, who was released from SCI-Retreat on Aug. 30, also stole a vehicle in Luzerne County and drove it to Trevorton.
According to a criminal complaint, Robert Joseph Gair also is accused of stealing all three vehicles with Herb.