A key prosecution witness in the upcoming New Philadelphia double homicide case appeared in District Court again on Monday to face charges in his third ongoing criminal case.
Jahlique Sherwood, 22, of Saint Clair, appeared for a preliminary hearing before District Magistrate Judge James Reiley on Monday morning.
Sherwood waived charges – including DUI and possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia – to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
This is Sherwood’s third ongoing criminal case in which he’s the defendant.
He’s also facing charges in a domestic assault case in Minersville and for possessing a stolen gun, which was allegedly found on him when police in Saint Clair picked him up on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court on the assault case.
He’s currently being held on bail in those two cases and charges against him in those have already been waived to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
Sherwood is allegedly the fourth person that was at a wooded New Philadelphia location known as The Sanchez back in early October 2023 when 18-year-old Hunter Mock and 16-year Angelito Caraballo were murdered.
Sherwood reportedly fled into the woods as, as the prosecution claims, Lamour Branch shot Mock and stabbed Caraballo to death. He testified at a preliminary hearing back in 2024 that he saw Branch pull a gun the night the two New Philadelphia teens died but fled into the woods until he reached a home to call for help.
The Branch double murder trial is expected to begin on May 4 at Schuylkill County Courthouse. Branch is facing counts of first- and third-degree murder.
For more on the New Philadelphia Murders case, visit our special coverage page by following this link.
Schuylkill County District Court Round-up | Feb. 9, 2026
The following defendants had preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley on Monday, Feb. 9. Here is a look at the results of the hearings:
Rashid Baker, 44, Port Carbon
- Charges: Strangulation (F), Aggravated assault (F), Burglary (F), Criminal trespass (F), Simple assault (M), Theft (M), Criminal mischief (M)
- Hearing: All charges were waived to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas
- ORIGINAL STORY: Man Wanted in Connection with Assault of Woman in Pottsville
Betty Jo Dolly, 54, Tamaqua
- Charges: 2 counts DUI (M), Traffic citation (S)
- Hearing: All charges were waived to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas
Luis Guillermo Morales, 33, Pottsville
- Charges: Disorderly conduct (M), Public drunkenness (S)
- Hearing: Morales entered a guilty plea on the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. The public drunkenness charge was dismissed. He was released from Schuylkill County Prison on Monday after being remanded there on Feb. 3.
Jacob Svrcek, 23, Frackville
- Charge: DUI-1st offense (M), DUI-1st offense (M), Possession of a controlled substance (M), Marijuana possession-small amount (M), Possession of drug paraphernalia (M), No headlights (S)
- Hearing: Svrcek waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday and his charges were transferred to Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
Kiliel Sherman, 21, Pottsville
- Charge: Providing false identity to law enforcement (M3)
- Hearing: The preliminary hearing in this case was continued.
Javier Morales-Febles, 47, Pottsville
- Charge: Indecent exposure (M)
- Hearing: The preliminary hearing in this case was continued on Monday.
Cases dismissed
Charges were dismissed against the following defendants at District Court on Monday (Feb. 9)
Shadrac Jeudy, 28, Spring Valley, NY: Simple assault, harassment
Sean Wilson, 57, Pottsville: Accidents involving damage to vehicle, vehicle turning left
Justin Kayal, 38, Pottsville: Simple assault, harassment
Arraignments
The following people were arraigned in District Court on Monday, Feb. 9 in Schuylkill County:
John Blashock IV, 53, Kline Township: Charged with simple assault and harassment. Bail was set at $25,000 unsecured.
Michael Brown, 44, Auburn: Charged with felony criminal mischief, attempted theft of secondary metal, Theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief-intentional damage to property.
Brown was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, who set bail at $25,000 and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison.
Jose Lebron, 44, Reading: Lebron is being charged with possession with intent to delivery, conspiracy to commit such acts, and criminal use of a communications facility, all felonies. He’s also been charged with a misdemeanor count of possessing a controlled substance.
At his arraignment, Judge Stephen Bayer set bail at $50,000 cash and remanded Lebron to Schuylkill County Prison.
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