SUNBURY - A case of false identification landed an Ashland man in jail for a month, and it's alleged it was all of his own doing.
Brian Dietrick, 44, of 7 S. 19th St., likely knew he was bound for prison when he was pulled over by Shenandoah police in late March. He had multiple outstanding warrants, including for felony drug charges.
But Dietrick identified himself as his older brother, 49-year-old Lewis, knowing his brother had a warrant for a lesser offense, according to multiple sources. Brian Dietrick was processed into three separate county prisons, was in custody of multiple law enforcement agencies, and appeared before a Northumberland County judge before the ruse was discovered this week.
Looked alike
Turns out big brother learned little brother was locked up under the wrong name and contacted Shenandoah police himself Wednesday, Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski said. However, police didn't contact Northumberland County officials, she said.
But suspicion had already been raised among Northumberland County prison staff, who confirmed Dietrick's tattoos didn't match what was on record under his brother's file, Targonski said. A fingerprint scan affirmed what Dietrick was allegedly the first to know: that he was using a false identity.
Despite the age difference, photos of the brothers available to prison staff would do little to tell the two apart, according to Bruce Kovach, Northumberland County Prison warden.
"I know they're not twins, but they're really close (in appearance). Looking at the photos, you'd never know," Kovach said Friday. "So many people checked this guy out and were convinced this was the right guy."
Kovach said he'd heard of similar situations in other prisons, but hadn't experienced it before himself. Intake procedures will be reviewed with prison staff and arresting officers, Kovach said.
"I don't believe that any Northumberland County law enforcement or prison officials were negligent in performing their duties. We took the identity of the suspect by virtue of what the (Shenandoah) officer reported," Targonski said.
"People typically don't go to jail under their brother's name because it's not as bad as going to jail under their own name," she said.
The warrant for Lewis Dietrick was for failing to show for a revocation hearing. He didn't pay court costs. That's the warrant Brian Dietrick was processed on. He was held at Schuylkill County Prison and picked up by Northumberland County officials March 25, when he was remanded to Snyder County Prison. Two days later, he was in Northumberland County Court before being transferred to the county prison section of SCI-Coal Township.
He's scheduled to return to Northumberland County Court on Monday, this time under his correct identity, on a bench warrant related to a 2004 theft case. Active warrants against him include a felony drug case filed in Schuylkill County in November 2014 and a theft case filed in Luzerne County in May 2014.
Charges pending
Multiple charges stemming from the March traffic stop, including false identification and possession of drug paraphernalia, are expected to be filed against him next week in the office of Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah. Targonski said there are no plans to file additional charges. He remains jailed at SCI-Coal Township.
Targonski recalled a similar incident with similar results.
"I can remember another incident where a suspect gave his brother's name because he did not have a driver's license. It turned out that his brother's license had been suspended anyway," Targonski said.