A Mahanoy City man is headed to state prison after being sentenced Monday in Schuylkill County Court on two sets of charges.
Ronald L. Blackwell, 48, must serve 1 1/2 to three years in a state correctional institution, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled.
“We can’t trust you out there,” Dolbin, who imposed the sentence after revoking the defendant’s probation, told Blackwell.
The defendant admitted violating his probation by, among other things, using drugs, failing to make payments on his costs and fines and not successfully completing his rehabilitation.
Blackwell and his lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Christopher M. Riedlinger, had asked Dolbin to sentence the defendant to one to two years in state prison, saying his mother is aging and in poor health.
Dolbin, however, accepted the recommendation of Assistant District Attorney Kimm M. Montone, who said this was the third time Blackwell has had his supervision revoked.
“He’s been given multiple opportunities,” Montone said of the defendant.
Blackwell originally pleaded guilty on May 20, 2008, to risking a catastrophe and failure to report or contain a dangerous fire. At that time, Dolbin placed Blackwell on probation for 23 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Account payment, which he still must pay under the terms of Monday’s sentence, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
Shenandoah police charged Blackwell with committing his crimes on Dec. 27, 2006, in the borough.
Then, on Feb. 20, 2013, Blackwell pleaded guilty to retail theft in a separate case. At that time, Dolbin placed him on 12 months probation consecutive to the defendant’s existing sentence, and sentenced him to pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment and $19.97 restitution.
Ashland police charged Blackwell with committing the theft on July 30, 2012, in the borough.
Dolbin on Monday also ordered Blackwell to pay all remaining costs and fees in both cases.