Jury selection is set to begin Wednesday and carry on through Friday at Schuylkill County Courthouse for several high-profile cases.
One Schuylkill County man is facing a third-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting his son in the face last September.
Two Schuylkill County men are facing charges for alleged inappropriate contact with children.
A Ringtown man is set to stand trial for shooting the mother of his fiancé. Plus, a Tamaqua man is facing numerous animal cruelty charges after he allegedly abandoned nearly a dozen animals at a place he rented.
Finally, a Pottsville man who was shot by a property owner in Port Carbon back in 2023 is also set to stand trial for his actions that night.
Read more about these cases below, plus check out the full lineup of cases for which juries will be selected ahead of the upcoming trial term at the Courthouse:
John F. Gustites, Sheppton
Gustites is facing a third-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting his son, John A., in the face at his East Union Township home back in September 2024.
According to our initial report, the younger Gustites allegedly confronted his father with a screwdriver one morning and his father shot him with a .357 Magnum.
The altercation reportedly happened following an argument between the two over the family vehicle.
John Riley, Pottsville
Riley is accused of raping and inappropriately touching a girl for several years, starting before she was 13 years old.
Riley has denied the accusations against him, saying he only had the child rub his legs and feet.
- READ: Pottsville Man Accused of Raping a Child Over Several Years, Victim Testifies in Child Sex Assault Case; Prosecutors Tack on Felony Charge
Brian Keefer, Schuylkill Haven
Keefer is charged with multiple felonies, including several counts of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault of a child under the age of 13, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children.
According to a report from the RepublicanHerald, Keefer’s alleged victim was 8 years old when the initial incident occurred.
However, during a preliminary hearing in District Court, the victim was questioned on why they recanted their accusation before reinstating it.
Austin Snyder, Ringtown
Snyder is accused of shooting the mother of his fiancé back in June 2024 after he found out that a birthday party for his daughter would be attended by a man he didn’t want to be there.
After learning this and following an altercation at his home, Snyder allegedly shot the woman twice in her thigh.
He’s facing a felony aggravated assault charge, multiple counts of reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of children.
READ: Police: Unwanted Birthday Party Guest Led to Ringtown Shooting
Anthony Richardson, Tamaqua
Richardson is one of two people who are accused of abandoning two dogs and nine cats at a Porter Township property, their former residence, back in January 2024.
Police say one of the dogs was in such a state of neglect that it had to be euthanized. He’s facing numerous counts of animal cruelty and other charges.
READ: Animal Cruelty Case Headed to Schuylkill County Court
Dennis Powanda Jr., Pottsville
Powanda is accused of intruding at a Port Carbon property back in February 2023. He was shot by the property owner, Vincent Yakaitis.
When police arrived, Powanda was allegedly in possession of several bags. He was there, according to witnesses, because he knew the property contained numerous valuable auto parts.
READ: Charges Filed in 2023 Port Carbon Trespassing Shooting
Jury Selection in Other Schuylkill County Cases This Week
Here are the other cases with jury selection scheduled this week:
- Tyler Porter, Pottsville: Aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest
- Mark Belaus, Pottsville: Obstruction, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substance, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct
- Lamar Easley, Nesquehoning: Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of small amount of marijuana
- Kerri Miller, Pottsville: Possession of a controlled substance (8 counts), possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest
- Kerri Miller, Pottsville: Forgery (10 counts), Identity theft (10 counts), Unauthorized use of access device (10 counts)
- Daniel Hagans Jr., Hazleton: Aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief
- Logan Forrest, Shenandoah: Strangulation, simple assault
- Michael Yulick, Schuylkill Haven: Criminal mischief, criminal mischief (intent to damage property)
- Diego Cruz, Mahanoy City: Assault of law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, terroristic threats
- James Tolan, Schuylkill Haven: Criminal trespass, defiant trespass
- Jonathan Schramm, Pottsville: Resisting arrest
- Naszier Colburn, Easton: Aggravated assault, aggravated arson, witness intimidation, simple assault
- Naszier Colburn, Easton: Aggravated assault, strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault
- Albert Constanzo, Pottsville: Aggravated assault (attempt to cause serious bodily injury), aggravated assault (attempt to cause bodily injury), possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault (two counts)
- Joseph O’Bryant, Pottsville: Driving with a suspended license (3+ offenses)
- Mark Thompson, Shenandoah: Corruption of minors, retail theft
- Mark Thompson, Shenandoah: Aggravated assault, possession of weapon, strangulation, reckless endangerment, simple assault (2 counts)
- Harley Adams, Auburn: Defiant trespass, false statements to authorities
- Ryan Miller, Schuylkill Haven: Receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of motor vehicle
- Diego Cruz, Mahanoy City: Makes repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in, uses, or possesses any offensive weapon (2 counts), resisting arrest, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct
- Tina Salpino, Huntingdon: DUI (2 counts)
- Gil Ortega, Shenandoah: Simple assault
- Angel Andino, McAdoo: Burglary, criminal trespass
- Gabriel Lomba, Hazleton: DUI (2 counts)
- David Turolis, Pottsville: Possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver
- Stephen Young, Tamaqua: Stalking, disorderly conduct
- Seth Valentine, Tamaqua: Theft (movable property), theft (immovable property), receiving stolen property
- Andrew Lewis, Tamaqua: Simple assault
- Gilberto Sanchez, Hazleton: Retail theft, receiving stolen property, theft by deception, identity theft, access device fraud
- James Mennig, Pottsville: Possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Christopher Pate, New Ringgold: Fleeing, eluding police, theft (movable property) (3 counts), access device fraud (4 counts)
- Craig Whyne, Frackville: Disorderly conduct
- Luis Rentas, Columbia: Possession of controlled substance
- Dennis Bugden, Shenandoah: Burglary, criminal trespass, theft of secondary metal
- Jennifer Eckert, Orwigsburg: Possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia
- Tanysha Brown, Mechanicsburg: Endangering the welfare of children, DUI, possession of small amount of marijuana, use of drug paraphernalia
- Valerie Underkoffler, Pine Grove: Identity theft (5 counts), access device fraud (5 counts), receiving stolen property (2 counts), receiving stolen property (3 counts)
- Jesse Loughran, Pottsville: Aggravated assault (attempt to cause serious bodily injury), aggravated assault (victim less than 6 years old), strangulation, simple assault, simple assault (victim under 12), terroristic threats
- Joseph Reed III, Schuylkill Haven: DUI
- Sonya Spicher, Saint Clair: Possession with intent to deliver (2 counts), conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver (2 counts), possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit possession of drug paraphernalia
- Robert Behney Jr., Pottsville: DUI, possession of a controlled substance
- Lance Haluska, Minersville: Theft of services, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property
- Johnissa Andrini, Girardville: Criminal trespass, attempted burglary, terroristic threats
- John Constance Jr., Minersville: Theft, receiving stolen property
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