Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin announced the following criminal sentences were issued by Pike County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Gregory Chelak:

Shawn Joseph Donovan, age 63, of China, ME, was sentenced to three months to one year in the Pike County Jail and fined $300 for the crime of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  The state police checked on Donovan who was sitting in his truck which was running, with the windows open and his head down in the driver’s seat at a business parking lot along SR 739 in Blooming Grove Township on December 28, 2021.  The trooper immediately detected the smell of Marihuana upon approaching Donovan’s vehicle.  Donovan admitted to being in possession of Marihuana and consented to the search of his vehicle.  The search revealed Marihuana and Methamphetamine.

Daryl Lorenzo Pearson, age 62, of Stroudsburg, PA, was sentenced to 16 months to 48 months in a state correctional facility and fined $1,500 for three counts of the crime of Theft by Deception.  On or about September 26, 2012, October 4, 2012, and October 19, 2012, at a church in Delaware Township, Pearson falsely represented himself as the landlord of an individual in need of financial assistance, collecting $700.00 in funds that he was not entitled to.

Leanna M. Courtney, age 30, of Port Jervis, NY, was sentenced to a fine of $400 for the crime of Retail Theft.  Courtney took merchandise valued at $52.98 from a retail store in Westfall Township on October 22, 2021, without paying for it. 

Jamel S. Grant, age 34, of NY, NY, was sentenced to six months to five years in the Pike County Jail and fined $1,000 and a driver’s license suspension of 18 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance.  Grant was stopped by the state police for driving erratically along SR 507 in Greene Township on July 9, 2020.  The trooper detected the smell of Marihuana and Grant admitted to smoking Marihuana prior to the stop. Grant was observed to have bloodshot eyes, acting in a confused manner, and appeared disheveled.  Field Sobriety Tests indicated impairment and a blood test confirmed THC in Grant’s blood. 

Brett Carl Fortna, age 33, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 60 months to 120 months in a state correctional facility and a fine of $1,000 for the crimes of Persons not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell or Transfer Firearms and Aggravated Assault.  The state police were dispatched to a domestic dispute at a residence in a community in Dingman Township where Fortna put a gun into an individual’s mouth, chipping the individual’s tooth on October 29, 2020.  Fortna had a prior conviction for Burglary and was in violation being in possession of a gun.

Melissa Dawn Spearing, age 44, of Greentown, PA, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and a fine of $300 for the crime of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Spearing was stopped by the state police on December 5, 2021, for speeding along Ledgedale Road in Greene Township.  A consent to search Spearing’s vehicle found her in possession of Methamphetamine.

Andre D, Samuel, age 51, of Howard Beach, NY, was sentenced to five days to six months in the Pike County Jail, fined $500 and had his driver’s license suspended for 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police responded to Dorset Drive in Lehman Township on September 13, 2021, where Samuel drove into a parked car and was transported to the hospital.  When contact was made with Samuel, he was observed to have bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  Samuel refused to participate in the Field Sobriety Tests or submit to a chemical blood test. 

Donald Sylvester Marsh, age 50, of Tyler Hill, PA, was sentenced to 90 days to five years in the Pike County Jail, fined $1,500 and had his driver’s license suspended for 18 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  Marsh was observed driving his vehicle into a parked car at a business located along Pennsylvania Avenue in Westfall Township on Feb. 10. When contact was made with Marsh, he was observed to be extremely intoxicated, confused and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  Marsh admitted to drinking prior to driving.  Marsh refused to submit to Field Sobriety Tests and a chemical breath test. 

Brianna Ellen Hussey, age 21, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 48 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, fined $500 and had her driver’s license suspended for 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police were dispatched to Log Tavern Road in Dingman Township where Hussey had driven her vehicle into a tree.  Hussey was observed to have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath.  Hussey admitted to drinking prior to driving.  A blood test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .101%.

Marcus James Petty, age 24, of Middletown, NY, was sentenced to one month to five years in the Pike County Jail, fined $2,800 and had his driver’s license suspended for 12 months for the crimes of Driving Under the Influence, Endangering the Welfare of Children and Possession of a Controlled Substance.  The state police responded to I-84 in Dingman Township where Petty was observed driving erratically and then over the embankment with the car coming to rest on its side on July 31, 2021.  When contact was made with Petty, he was observed to be unsteady and confused and admitted smoking Marihuana.  Field Sobriety Tests indicated impairment.  Petty was found in possession of Fentanyl and an 11-month-old child in the car.

Aleksey Rasputny, age 45, of Manhattan, NY, was sentenced to four months to 23 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $600 for the crimes of Resisting Arrest and Criminal Mischief.  Rasputny smashed the window of a business along SR 6 in Palmyra Township on April 12.  When troopers attempted to place him under arrest, substantial force had to be employed to overcome his resistance.  

Mahire Eric Hill, age 32, of Tafton, PA, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and fined $900 for the crimes of Terroristic Threats, Resisting Arrest and Harassment.  Hill was involved in a neighbor dispute at a residence in Blooming Grove Township on March 16, during which Hill threatened to kill an individual.  When state police attempted to place Hill under arrest, Hill resisted, causing the troopers to use substantial force to overcome him.  Hill intended to annoy and harass an individual at a residence in Lehman Township by anonymously communicating with an individual through telephone calls, text messages, Facebook and video calls from June 29, 2021, through July 4, 2021.

Patrick Michael John Loria, age 47, of Port Jervis, NY, was sentenced to three months to 12 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $500 for the crime of Theft.  Loria took an I-pad valued at $349.97 from a retail store in Westfall Township on Jan. 30, without the owner’s permission.

Bryan William Bailo, age 21, of Dingmans Ferry, PA, was sentenced to three months to 23 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $500 for the crime of Simple Assault.  The state police were dispatched to a residential community in Delaware Township where an altercation occurred between several individuals during which Bailo pulled out a switchblade and stabbed an individual in the neck and wrist.

Elizabeth Anne Yngue, age 48, of Quarryville, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, fined $1,200 and had her driver’s license suspended for 12 months for the crimes of Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Small Amount of Marihuana.  The state police were dispatched to the I-84 rest area in Palmyra Township on January 10, 2021, where Yngue was in the parking lot cursing and screaming at people and dancing around.  When contact was made with Yngue, she was sitting in her vehicle which was running.  The trooper detected the smell of Marihuana. Yngue admitted to smoking Marihuana.  Field Sobriety Tests indicated impairment and a consent to search her vehicle revealed Marihuana.  A blood test confirmed the presence of THC in her blood.

Wilber Alexander Cruz Dubon, age 19, was sentenced to 11 months to 23 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $500 for the crime of Persons not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell or Transfer Firearms.  Cruz was stopped by the state police on October 16, 2021, for speeding along I-84 in Blooming Grove Township.  A consent to search his vehicle revealed a Ruger handgun.  Cruz was found to be an illegal alien and therefore is not allowed to possess a weapon.

Sharief Omar Ford, age 27, of Bushkill, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months, fined $1,000 and had his driver’s license suspended for 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance.  Ford was stopped by the state police on January 24, 2021, for an expired registration while traveling along Milford Road in Delaware Township.  While talking with Ford, an odor of Marihuana was detected and Ford was observed to have bloodshot eyes, Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment and a blood test confirmed the presence of THC in his blood.

Elizabth Jane Bronzino, age 50, of Bushkill, PA was sentenced to 10 days in the Pike County Jail and six months of probation less 10 days, a fine of $750 and driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police were dispatched to Kirkman Road in Lehman Township where Bronzino was observed to have bloodshot eyes, acting confused and smelling of an alcoholic beverage.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment and a breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .131%.

Jonathan N. Laughlin, age 33, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to six months of the Pike Care Program which will include a fine of $795 and a 12-month driver’s license suspension for the crime of Driving Under the Influence and the Summary Offense of Maximum Speed Limits.  Laughlin was stopped by the state police on February 6, 2021, for speeding along SR 739.  When contact was made with Laughlin, the trooper detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  Laughlin admitted to drinking prior to driving.  Field Sobriety Tests indicated impairment and a breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .119%.

Maxim Trifonov, age 34, of Newark, NJ, was sentenced to three years of probation and a fine of $500 for the crime of Simple Assault.  Trifonov repeatedly spanked a child less than six years of age which caused bruising at a residence in Lackawaxen Township on Jan. 23.

Laura Ann Vaccaro, age 35, of Oxford, NJ, was sentenced to three days to 12 months in the Pike County Jail and a fine of $500 for the crime of Retail Theft.  Vaccaro did not pay the full retail value for items purchased at a retail business in Westfall Township on July 10, 2021.

Eunice Eliza Caruso, age 57, of Mt. Pocono, PA, was sentenced to 48 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, fined $879 and driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence and the Summary Offenses of Maximum Speed Limits and Disorderly Conduct.  The state police stopped Caruso for speeding along SR 2001 in Dingman Township on September 3, 2021.  When contact was made with Caruso, the trooper detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage and observed her to have slow, slurred speech.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment and a breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .144%.

Christopher James Strouse, age 38, of Newfoundland, PA, was sentenced to 24 months of probation, a fine of $500 and a driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crime of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.  The state police stopped Strouse on December 24, 2021, after observing his vehicle speeding and weaving across his lane of travel along SR 507 in Greene Township.  Strouse failed to stop, with a pursuit ensuing, and eventually Strouse jumping out of the vehicle and running into a residence.

Michael Patrick Goodrich, age 32, of Beach Lake, PA, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and a fine of $400 for the crime of Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition.  Goodrich cut down trees valued at $200.00 on December 19, 2019, and December 23, 2019, on a property located in Greene Township without the property owner’s permission.

Amanda Joi Colarusso, age 27, of Greeley, PA, was sentenced to two years to five years in a state correctional facility and fined $500 for the crime of Delivery of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance.  Colarusso sold Heroin/Fentanyl to a confidential informant on November 24, 202, at a residence in Blooming Grove Township. 

John M. Scheppard, age 36, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, fined $1,000.00 and had his driver’s license suspended for 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police responded to Forest Place in Blooming Grove Township where Scheppard crashed his vehicle into a tree.  Scheppard was observed to have slurred speech and excited utterances.  Scheppard admitted to drinking prior to the accident.  A blood test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .201%.

Jerry Patrick Laird, age 36, of Dingmans Ferry, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, a fine of $1,300 and a 12-month driver’s license suspension for the crimes of Criminal Mischief and Driving Under the Influence.  The state police were dispatched to a community in Delaware Township on May 20, 2021, to assist public safety with Laird, a suspected DUI.  Laird drove his vehicle through the front entrance gate of the community and traveled four miles before pulling over.  When contact was made with Laird, an odor of an alcoholic beverage was detected, and Laird was observed to have slurred speech and bloodshot eyes.  Laird admitted to drinking prior to driving.  Field Sobriety Tests indicated impairment and a blood test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .223%.

Simon Richard Altizio, age 21, of Lords Valley, PA, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and fined $500 for the crime of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Altizio was stopped by the state police for speeding and expired registration when traveling along SR 507 in Greene Township on August 15, 2021.  When speaking with Altizio, a smell of Marihuana was detected.  A consent to search his vehicle was denied.  A search warrant was secured, and a search revealed over 65 grams of packaged Marihuana. 

Jake C, Soisson, age 25, of Greeley, PA, was sentenced to six months of probation and a fine of $300 for the crime of Receiving Stolen Property.  The state police found Soisson in possession of two Motorola radios having a value in excess of $200, knowing that they had been stolen from the Greely Fire Department.

John Carlo Avon, age 75, Lackawaxen, PA, was sentenced to six months of probation and fined $300 for the crime of Driving Under the Influence. The state police observed Avon travel well below the posted speed limit and swerve along his lane of travel on SR 6 in Palmyra Township on March 11.  When contact was made with Avon, he was observed to have bloodshot, watery eyes and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage. Avon admitted to drinking prior to driving.  Field Sobriety Tests were conducted, and a breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .106%.

Andrew Lee Siegfried, age 25, of Greentown, PA, was sentenced to seven days to six months in the Pike County Jail and fined $400.00 for the crime of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and the Summary Offenses of Registration and Certification of Title Required and Inspection of Motorcycles.  The state police responded to Promised Land Road in Greene Township on June 4, 2021, where Siegfried had crashed his motorcycle.  Siegfried was found in possession of a metal pipe used for the ingestion of controlled substance and driving an unregistered, uninspected motorcycle.

Joshua Caleb Briggs, age 26, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to 18 months, fined $1,000 and a driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police responded to SR 739 in Delaware Township where Briggs had crashed his vehicle into a pole and tree.  Briggs was emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage and was observed to have bloodshot, glossy eyes and slurred speech.  Briggs admitted to drinking prior to driving.  A blood test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .214%.

Gordon Scott, age 51, of Greentown, PA, was sentenced to three months to 12 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $500 for the crime of Strangulation.  The state police responded to a residence in Greene Township where Scott was involved in a domestic dispute. He placed his hand on an individual's neck and throat, restricting the individual’s ability to breathe and causing a loss of consciousness on September 21, 2020.

Derek Jacob Thomas, age 33, of Matamoras, PA, was sentenced to five years of the Pike Care Program which will include a fine of $1,500 and driver’s license suspension of 18 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The Eastern Pike Regional Police pursued Thomas who was intoxicated and involved in a domestic dispute at a residence in Westfall Township and fled the residence.  Thomas was apprehended in Mill Rift where he was observed to have an unsteady gait, slurred speech, glassy, bloodshot eyes and smelling of an alcoholic beverage.  Thomas refused Field Sobriety Testing and breath testing.

Christian Mark Turner, age 27, of Matamoras, PA, was sentenced to nine months to 23 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $650 for the crimes of Flight to Avoid Apprehension and Possession of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance.  Eastern Pike Regional Police were dispatched to Avenue N in Matamoras on March 3, where Turner was behaving in a suspicious manner.  Turner fled the scene and was later located near the Delaware River where he jumped in to avoid apprehension.  Turner was found in possession of Heroin.

Andrew Cieplinski, age 57, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 11 to 23 months to three years of probation and fined $1,300 for the crimes of Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Corruption of Minors and Tampering with or Fabricating Evidence.  Between February 2, 2019, and March 30, 2019, at two residences in Milford Township, Cieplinski had a minor send nude images of herself with the use of a cell phone to Cieplinski.  Cieplinski attempted to erase data on his cell phone in an attempt to conceal evidence of his relationship with the minor.

Joshua David Thompson, age 30, of Hawley, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, followed by 12 months of probation, fined $1,250 and had his driver’s license suspended for 36 months for two counts of the crime of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or a Controlled Substance, Driving While Operating Privileges Suspended or Revoked, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. The state police pulled Thompson over on January 14, 2021, after observing him cross the yellow lines of Greeley Lake Road several times.  While speaking with Thompson, the trooper observed signs of impairment. Thompson admitted to injecting himself with Methamphetamine earlier.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment and a blood test confirmed the presence of Methamphetamine and Amphetamine.  Thompson was found in possession of Methamphetamine. The state police encountered Thompson, for whom they had an outstanding warrant, at a business parking lot on April 9, 2021, along Route 6 in Palmyra Township.  Thompson was observed to have a low raspy voice, bloodshot eyes with droopy lids.  Thompson admitted using Heroin earlier.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment and a blood test confirmed the presence of Methamphetamine, Amphetamine and Fentanyl.