Three men admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that they violated protection from abuse orders entered against them.
Brad C. Frye, 34, of Quakake, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom.
Judge John E. Domalakes accepted Frye’s plea and sentenced him to serve four days to three months in prison with immediate parole and pay costs and a $300 fine. The fine is mandatory under state law.
State police at Frackville charged Frye with violating the order by making telephone calls to the victim on Feb. 4. Judge Charles M. Miller had entered the order against Frye on Oct. 28, 2015.
John M. Miller Jr., 31, of Cressona, also pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Domalakes sentenced him to spend three months on probation and pay costs and a $300 fine.
Pottsville police charged John Miller with violating the order on Jan. 31 in the city. Judge Miller had entered the order against the defendant on Sept. 23, 2015.
Tom A. Starrett, 50, of Pottsville, also pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Domalakes sentenced him to spend six months on probation consecutive to his current sentence and pay costs and a $300 fine.
Pottsville police charged Starrett with violating the order on Jan. 20 in the city. Senior Judge D. Michael Stine had entered the order against the defendant on Oct. 14, 2015.
Also on Wednesday, prosecutors withdrew charges of indirect criminal contempt against Matthew J. Burke, 34, of Frackville, and Karen M. Capko, 32, of Pottsville.
Burke and Capko each had been charged by Pottsville police with violating a protection from abuse order on Feb. 7.
In other criminal court action on Wednesday, President Judge William E. Baldwin recommitted Richard M. Bonney, 37, of Hazle Township, to prison after revoking his parole.
Under the terms of Baldwin’s order, Bonney must undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and cannot apply for reparole until April 4.
“We’re not going to keep doing this,” Baldwin said in warning Bonney that his next violation would mean recommittal to serve the rest of his sentence in prison.
Bonney admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, committing a new crime, failing a drug test and not making payments on his costs and fees.
He originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 14, 2012, to retail theft, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of receiving stolen property and driving under suspension. At that time, Baldwin placed him on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $278 restitution.
Baldwin then revoked Bonney’s probation on Sept. 9, 2014, and sentenced him to serve three to 23 months in prison.
Rush Township police charged Bonney with committing the theft on Oct. 12, 2011, in the township.
On Thursday, an Ashland man went to prison after being sentenced in Schuylkill County Court for driving drunk in May 2012.
Michael R. Thomas, 30, must serve nine months to five years behind bars and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, Domalakes ruled.
Domalakes imposed the sentence after removing Thomas from the intermediate punishment program.
Thomas originally pleaded guilty on May 22, 2013, to driving under the influence and disregarding traffic lane, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of careless driving. At that time, Domalakes placed Thomas in the intermediate punishment program for five years, and also sentenced him to pay costs, $1,525 in fines and $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, all of which he still must pay under the terms of Thursday’s sentence.
State police at Frackville charged Thomas was DUI on May 11, 2012, in New Castle Township.