MOUNT CARMEL - The Berwick man who allegedly fled from police last week and the girlfriend who police say hid him in the attic of her house both waived their cases to county court Wednesday afternoon during preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones.
Justin W. Cressinger, 24, of the rear of 1120 W. Front St., Apt. 3, Berwick, and Brittney Anecki, 19, of 438 N. Market St., Elysburg, were ordered to appear for plea court Dec. 31 at Northumberland County Courthouse in Sunbury, where they can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.
Cressinger faces two felony counts of aggravated assault and three misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest and providing false identification to law enforcement.
Anecki faces charges of one felony count of aggravated assault, and two misdemeanors of resisting arrest and harboring and concealing Cressinger from police.
Traffic stop
The circumstances surrounding their charges stem from a traffic stop Nov. 1 by Ralpho Township Patrolman Christopher Grow along Route 54. Cressinger allegedly gave false information, pushed Grow when he started to arrest him and fled the scene. He has seven warrants for his arrest against him in Columbia County in relation to unpaid fines.
Anecki allegedly assaulted Grow later when the officer came to her house, and is accused of hiding Cressinger for 2 1/2 hours while dozens of police officers from Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties searched for him.
Their preliminary hearings were scheduled at 1 p.m., but they didn't appear before Jones until 3 p.m. In order to conserve time, Jones held the hearings of Cressinger, Anecki and Jeffrey J. Burke, 43, of 1405 Plum Creek Road, Sunbury, together.
Burke, who also waived his case to county court, is facing charges unrelated to Anecki and Cressinger of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under suspension, unauthorized transfer or use of a vehicle registration, driving without a valid registration, driving without a proper inspection certificate, driving without insurance, receiving stolen property and possessing an electronic incapacitation device.
Cressinger and Burke were brought into the courtroom shackled together while Anecki was brought in alone. Both Cressinger and Burke were wearing green hooded sweatshirts over their orange prison jumpsuits.
All three were represented by Northumberland County Public Defender Paige Rosini.
Jones explained to each defendant what waiving their cases meant, and then asked if they understood the choice they were making. Each person came forward to sign the paperwork and then were escorted out of the courtroom.
Anecki bail changed
Cressinger and Burke were being returned to Northumberland County Prison, but Anecki's bail was being changed to $75,000 unsecured bond and she was allowed to be released from prison.
Jones explained if she didn't show up for any further court hearings, a warrant would be issued for her arrest and she would be fined the amount of the bond.
A woman, who identified herself to the office staff in the waiting room as Anecki's mother, asked the judge when she was allowed to pick up her daughter from prison. An officer informed her that it would take at least 45 minutes to return to Sunbury, and another 45 minutes for her to be released from the prison.
The woman had been in the waiting room with a younger woman and her son, and they left immediately after the hearing.
Both Cressinger and Anecki were still listed in prison at 7 p.m. Wednesday.