Sentencing in Pike County Court

Posted 5/5/24

MILFORD, PA -- Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin on April 19 announced the following criminal sentences  issued by Pike County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Gregory Chelak:

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Sentencing in Pike County Court

Posted

MILFORD, PA -- Pike County District Attorney Raymond J. Tonkin on April 19 announced the following criminal sentences  issued by Pike County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Gregory Chelak:

Jerry Lopez-Huerta, 24, of Middletown, NY, was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months in Pike County Jail and 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 I-84 mile marker 37.6, where Lopez-Huerta had his vehicle parked on the shoulder on December 9, 2021. Lopez-Huerta displayed bloodshot, watery eyes, appeared overly relaxed, and had a strong odor of burnt marijuana on his breath and clothing. Lopez- Huerta admitted to smoking marijuana 3 to 4 hours before driving. A “clip” and a burnt marijuana cigarette were in Lopez-Huertas’ possession. Field sobriety tests indicated impairment and a blood test confirmed the presence of THC in his blood.

Steve Perez, 49, of Lords Valley, PA, was sentenced to 8 months to 23 months in Pike County Jail and fined $900 for the crimes of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and 2 counts of Simple Assault. The State Police responded to 141 Hickory Drive in Blooming Grove Township, where the domestic disturbance had occurred on January 1, 2024. Perez had fled the scene and approximately an hour later was picked up by the State Police at a traffic stop. Perez was taken into custody.

Joshua Pratt, 46, of Tafton, PA, was sentenced to 18 months and 3 days to 12 years and 6 months in state prison and fined $5,500 for the crimes of 3 counts of Driving Under the Influence, False Identification to Law Enforcement, and Flight to Avoid Apprehension. A driver’s license suspension of 12 months for count 1, 18 months for count 2, and 18 months for count 1, totaling a license suspension of 48 months. The State Police responded to the area of 2541 RT 6 in Palmyra Township where Pratt was found sleeping in his running vehicle at the gas pump on January 9, 2021. Pratt admitted to smoking marijuana prior to driving. Pratt refused a blood draw. On August 28, 2021, the State Police conducted a traffic stop on Pratt for nonfunctioning registration plate lights on Route 507 in Palmyra Township. During this stop, Pratt used false identification and attempted to flee the State Police. Pratt was found with suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia. On April 8, 2023, The State police responded to a vehicle that passed them on Route 390 at a high speed. Pratt attempted to escape the State Police in the vehicle but came to a dead-end. Pratt exited the vehicle and fled the State Police on foot. Pratt was taken into custody and refused a blood draw. On April 26, 2023, Pike County Sheriff’s Department responded to 166 Beaver Dam Rd, in Tafton, PA, to serve Pratt and Norton bench warrants. Pratt was found emerging from a closet and was taken into custody.

Rafael Baeza, 47, of Greentown, PA, was sentenced to 6 months and 10 days to 5 years and 6 months to State Prison and fined $3,000 for 2 counts of Driving Under the Influence and 1 count of Possession of a Controlled Substance. A driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the 1st count and 18 months for the 2nd count, totaling 30 months of suspension. The State Police conducted a traffic stop in Green Township due to incorrect vehicle registration on May 26, 2023. Baeza’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot with constricted pupils. Baeza admitted to having some bags of heroin in the vehicle. Field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment and a blood test confirmed the presence of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, fentanyl, morphine, and methadone. On June 22, 2023, The State police conducted another traffic stop in Greene Township due to the vehicle registration being incorrect. Baeza reported the vehicle belonged to his boss. Baeza was sweating and had a raspy voice and bloodshot eyes with constricted pupils. Baeza consented to another vehicle search and drug paraphernalia was seized. Field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment and Baeza refused a blood test.

Maureen Pomroy, 33, of Tafton, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months in Pike County Jail, a driver’s license suspension of 12 months, and a $1,000 fine for the crime of Driving Under the Influence. The State Police responded to a vehicle stuck in a ditch at Route 390 and Route 507 on July 15, 2023. Pomroy had left the scene and was found at her residence. Pomroy admitted to drinking earlier in the evening. Her eyes were bloodshot and watery and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her and her breath. Field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment and a breath test confirmed Pomroy’s blood-alcohol content to be 0.269 percent.

Robert Stewart, 40, of Dingmans Ferry, PA, was sentenced to probation for 2 years and fined $500 for the crime of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. The State Police responded to 127 North Lake Drive in Delaware Township on December 7, 2023. Stewart engaged in a physical domestic and admitted to pushing his girlfriend to the ground.

Connie Schneider, 35, of Glen Spey, NY, was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months in Pike County Jail, a driver’s license suspension of 12 months, and fined $1,000 for the crime of Driving Under the Influence. Eastern Pike Regional responded to a 2-vehicle collision in Matamoras Borough on January 5, 2023. There was a strong odor of malt-brewed beverage coming from Schneider’s breath along with her eyes being bloodshot and glassy. A field sobriety test indicated signs of impairment and a breath test confirmed positive for alcohol. Schneider consented to a blood test and the blood test confirmed the presence of THC and alcohol.

Amanda Bodensieck, 40, of Port Jervis, NY, was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months in Pike County Jail and fined $1,000 for the crime of Driving Under the Influence. A driver’s license suspension of 12 months. The State Police responded to a 2-vehicle crash in Milford Township on March 21, 2023. Bodensieck reports she did not see the tractor-trailer exiting the driveway and struck it. There was a heavy odor of marijuana coming from Bodensieck’s vehicle. Bodensieck’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Bodensieck consented to a blood test and the test confirmed the presence of marijuana in her blood.

Laura Keogh-Grayek, 40, of Greentown PA, was sentenced to Pike Care Probation for 6 months and fined $750 for the crime of Driving Under the Influence. A driver’s license suspension of 12 months. The State Police conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle that was crossing over the white fog line twice in Greene Township on March 2, 2023. There was a cup located in the vehicle that appeared to be a mixed drink. Keogh-Grayek admitted to having 2 glasses of wine. Field sobriety tests indicated signs of impairment and a breath test confirmed her blood-alcohol content level to be above the legal limit.

John Jagger, 58, of Dingmans Ferrycwas sentenced to probation for 6 months and fined $300 for the crime of Recklessly Endangering Another Person. The State Police responded to 122 Hillcrest Drive for Jagger who was reported to be driving erratically on October 9, 2021. There was a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from Jagger and his breath. Field sobriety tests were refused while at the residence. Jagger was transported to Blooming Grove Barracks and completed the field sobriety tests there which showed signs of impairment. Jagger refused a breath test.

Daniel Read, 63, of Dingmans Ferry, PA, was sentenced to 72 days to 23 months in Pike County Jail and fined $300 for the crime of Terroristic Threats. The State Police received a phone call regarding an unknown male caller making threats to Lake Adventure employees for heat surveillance on February 5, 2024. State Police arrived at Read’s home and observed Read to be highly intoxicated.

Georgette Latoraco, 47, of Bushkill, PA, was sentenced to probation for 6 months and fined $300 for the crime of Possession of a Controlled Substance. On June 16, 2023, Latoraco was brought into Blooming Grove State Police Barracks for an interview regarding the drugs in her purse that was found in the parking lot by a current employee. A field test was completed and confirmed the drugs to be positive for crack cocaine.

Mark Orse, 56, of Bangor, PA, was sentenced to 48 days to 23 months in Pike County Jail for the crimes of Criminal Trespassing and Loitering and Prowling at nighttime, and probation for 12 months to run concurrent to his sentence and fined $800. The State Police responded to 113 Amber Trail in Blooming Grove Township for a male trespassing on July 21, 2021. Orse admitted to opening the door to the victim’s vehicle and looking through 

Sean Engle, 34, of Tafton, PA, was sentenced to probation for 18 months and fined $800 for the crimes of Abuse of a Corpse and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The State Police responded to the report of a deceased female body found inside a container under blankets in the residence 115 Deer Path in Palmyra Township on September 12, 2022. Forensic evidence was gathered at the scene with forensic mapping and it is believed the victim suffered a drug overdose, and that Engle placed her body into a tote and lowered the body into the basement without notifying authorities or family.

Benjamin Kasier, 20, of Bethlehem, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to 6 months in Pike County Jail for 12 months of probation to run consecutive, and a driver's license suspension of 12 months. Kasier was fined $1,600 for the crimes of Disorderly Conduct, Driving Under the Influence, and Criminal Mischief. The State Police conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle swerving in and out of the travel lanes on October 13, 2023. Kasier smelled of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and was inconsistent with his story. A field sobriety test showed signs of impairment. A breath test was conducted, but was incorrect each time Kasier did it, and it eventually became a refusal.

Jessica Prigge, 35, of Shohola, PA, was sentenced to Pike Care Probation for 5 years, a $1,855 fine, and a driver’s license suspension of 18 months for the crimes of Driving Under the Influence, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Max Speed Limit. The State Police conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle to be swerving over the yellow line and driving into the oncoming lane of traffic on January 28, 2023. Prigge’s eyes were glassy, bloodshot, had an alcoholic beverage odor emanating from the vehicle and a marijuana odor. A field sobriety test showed signs of impairment. Prigge consented to a breath test in which her blood-alcohol content was 0.191 percent.

Gregory Zaborowski, 63, of Hawley, PA, was sentenced to 3 months to 6 months in Pike County Jail, a $1,075 fine, and driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crimes of Driving Under the Influence, General Lighting Requirements, Driving on Roadways Laned for Traffic, and Careless Driving. The State Police conducted a traffic stop due to the vehicle having an inoperable registration light and swerving over the solid white fog line on March 23, 2023. Zaborowski appeared drowsy, disoriented and displayed ptosis. Field Sobriety tests showed signs of impairment. Zaborowski consented to a blood test and confirmed the presence of benzoylecgonine, fentanyl, and morphine in his blood.

Alexandra Salmi, 31 of Canadensis, PA, was sentenced to 24 months to 72 months in State Prison and fined $2,500 for the crimes of Assault to a Law Enforcement Officer, Charge of Assault to a Law Enforcement Officer, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, and Driving Under the Influence. She has a driver’s license suspension of 12 months on count 3 of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, and 12 months suspension on count 6 of Driving under the Influence, for a total of 24 months suspension. A report was made to the State Police regarding a vehicle going 65-100 mph and swerving. State Police responded and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Salmi continued driving for 3 more miles when the State Police were able to pull their vehicle in front of Salmi. Salmi’s eyes were glassy and appeared to be impaired. Field Sobriety tests were unable to be conducted due to Salmi being highly intoxicated. Salmi resisted arrest and spit in the officer’s face. Two breath samples were taken from Salmi, and the final result was a blood-alcohol content of 0.257 percent.

Jodi Carey, 47, of Tannersville, NY, was sentenced to 18 months to 5 years in State Prison and fined $1,900 for the crimes of Welfare Fraud, Buying/Exchanging SNAP benefits, 2 counts Charge of Theft, Criminal Mischief, and Theft of Services. In March 2021, Carey gave her EBT card to another person as a repayment method. Carey had also stolen items that belonged to her daughter’s boyfriend. In May 2021, Carey continued to receive SNAP benefits for two minor children who were no longer in her custody. In February 2021, Carey booked a hotel stay. Carey did not leave after her check-out day and did not pay for the extended stay. Carey had her son steal a 32-inch TV from the hotel during her stay which caused damage to the apartment.

Pike County District Attorney, Raymond J. Tonkin, Pike County Court of Common Pleas, Gregory Chelak, Pike County, sentencing

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