The scheduled sentencing of Dennis Powanda Jr. on Tuesday morning was delayed due to his health condition.
In June, Powanda was found not guilty on burglary and other related charges stemming from an incident in Port Carbon back in 2023 in which he was shot and paralyzed by a Palo Alto man who believed he was breaking into his property.
However, a Schuylkill County jury did find Powanda guilty of one charge in the case, possessing an instrument of crime. On his person that night, Powanda had two flashlights, one in his hand and one in a bag he was carrying, and a headlamp. He said he was walking from his house in Mechanicsville to a friend’s house in Schoentown to return the bag he was holding.
Powanda faces between 6-16 months in state prison for that crime. Assistant District Attorney Tom Pellish said the prosecution does intend to seek a state prison sentence for Powanda.
Defense attorney Joe Nahas seems as though he’ll argue for electronic monitoring as a sentence for his client, who is bound to a wheelchair.
Pellish said that the District Attorney’s Office is “not agreeing to electronic monitoring” for Powanda.
Powanda was scheduled to learn his fate on that lone guilty verdict from his trial on Tuesday morning. However, he turned up to court before Schuylkill County Judge William Burke ill and Nahas requested a continuance.
Nahas told Burke that his client was hospitalized last week and is likely to be admitted to the hospital again this week due to persistent infections
Burke granted the continuance but said he wanted to get the sentencing completed before the start of the next criminal trial term in September.
“The continuance isn’t going to be indefinite,” Burke told Nahas.
The judge also instructed Powanda to come prepared to surrender himself to authorities on the day of the sentencing if incarceration is ordered for him.
COMMONWEALTH V. POWANDA FULL COVERAGE:
- Tempers Flare, Voices Raised During First Day of Powanda Trial
- Powanda Takes the Stand Just Prior to Courthouse Evacuation
- Powanda Not Guilty of Burglary, Jury Decides
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...