Pike County District Attorney Press Release

In the Pike County Courts — December 1

Posted 12/9/22

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:

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Pike County District Attorney Press Release

In the Pike County Courts — December 1

Posted

MILFORD, PA — 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:

Lydia Mabelle Kovaleski, age 30, of Greentown, PA, was sentenced to 18 months to 60 months, to run concurrent to an existing sentence for a prior drug conviction, in a state correctional facility and fined $500 for the crime of Delivery of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance.  The state police observed Kovaleski sell Heroin/Fentanyl to an individual at a residence in Greene Township on May 24, 2022.

Deborah Josephine Houck, age 58, of Hurleyville, NY, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and fined $1,000 for the crime of Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Retail Theft.  Between May 19, 2022, and May 25, 2022, Houck conspired with another individual to take merchandise valued at $1,961.16 from a retail store in Westfall Township.

John Robert Lahey, age 42, of Shohola, PA, was sentenced to six months to 12 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $500 for the crime of Retail Theft.  Lahey took $1,644.28 of store merchandise from a retail store located in Westfall Township and failed to pay the full retail value on May 25, 2022.

Kevin John Ryan, age 56, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 10 days to six months in the Pike County Jail and fined $1,000 for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police responded to a two-vehicle crash along Raymondskill Road, where Ryan hit a vehicle backing into a driveway on February 24, 2021.  Ryan admitted to consuming alcohol and was observed to have glassy, bloodshot eyes and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment.  Ryan refused to submit to a breath test.

Marc Anthony Guidetti, age 46, of Bushkill, PA, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and fined $500 for the crime of Terroristic Threats.  The state police responded to a business along SR 209 in Lehman Township where Guidetti was involved in a physical dispute with another individual during which Guidetti threatened to break the jaw of the individual on August 11, 2019.

Michael S. Kincade, age 58, of Hawley, PA, was sentenced to 48 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, followed by 6 months of probation, a fine of $1,100 and a driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crimes of Driving Under the Influence and Resisting Arrest and the Summary Offense of Accident Involving Damage to Unattended Vehicle or Property.  The state police were dispatched to I-84 in Dingman Township where Kincaide had crashed his vehicle and fled on foot.  Kincaide was found hiding in the woods.  Kincaide refused verbal commands and substantial force had to be implemented to subdue him.  Kincaide was observed to have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  A breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .111%.

Michael Richard Pforte, age 34, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in the Pike County Jail, fined $1,200 and a driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence and the Summary Offense of Accident Involving Damage to Unattended Vehicle or Property.  Eastern Pike Regional Police responded to Foster Hill Road in Westfall Township where Pforte drove a UTV through a private fence and flipping the UTV into a tree on June 25, 2022.  Pforte was observed to have red, bloodshot eyes, lack of balance and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  Pforte admitted to drinking prior to driving the UTV.  Pforte refused to participate in Field Sobriety Tests or a breath test.

John C. Terrana, age 25, of Shavertown, PA, was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a fine of $500 and a driver’s license suspension to be determined by PennDOT, for the crime of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.  The state police observed Terrana operating a UTV along SR 507 in Palmyra Township on April 15, 2022.  Terrana failed to heed the lights and sirens of the state police and a pursuit ensued before apprehension was made.

Willard J. Bruning, age 45, of Bushkill, PA, was sentenced to two months to five months in the Pike County Jail and a fine of $500 for the crime of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.  The state police responded to a residence in Lehman Township where Bruning took possession of a motor vehicle between September 1, 2019, through October 13, 2019, without the consent of the vehicle owner.

Kenneth W. Gabell, age 34, of Hawley, PA, was sentenced to five years of the Pike Care Program which will include 90 days of house arrest, a fine of $1,500 and driver’s license suspension of 18 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police pulled over Gabell on April 11, 2022, for a suspicious maneuver with his vehicle along SR 590 in Lackawaxen Township.  Gabell was observed to be nervous and emanating the smell of an alcoholic beverage.  Gabell admitted drinking prior to driving.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment and a breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .208%.

Tariq Spencer, age 40, of East Stroudsburg, PA, was sentenced to six months to 12 months in the Pike County Jail and a fine of $600 for the crimes of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Open Lewdness.  The state police responded to a business in Milford Township on October 2, 2020, where Spencer was naked in his vehicle screaming and flailing about.  Spencer was found in possession of Heroin.

Justin Wayne Cook, age 29, of Milford, PA, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and a fine of $600 for the crime of Resisting Arrest and the Summary Offense of Public Drunkenness.  Milford Borough Police were dispatched on March 12, 2022, for a fight in progress involving Cook at a business along Broad Street in the Borough.  When the officers attempted to place Cook under arrest, he resisted, causing substantial risk of injury to the officers.  Cook was found to be under the influence of alcohol.

Wendy Nicole Huttie, age 42, of Hawley, PA, was sentenced to six months of probation and a fine of $300 for the crime of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  The state police checked on a vehicle parked in a parking lot in Greene Township on April 22, 2021, for suspicious behavior in which Huttie was a passenger.  A consent to search the vehicle exposed Huttie in possession of syringes containing drug residue.

Brenda L. Engvaldsen, age 54, of Stroudsburg, PA, was sentenced to one year to five years in a state correctional facility, fined $2,100 and a driver’s license suspension of 18 months for the crimes of Driving Under the Influence, Resisting Arrest and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  The state police were dispatched to Welcome Road in Lackawaxen Township where Engvaldsen crashed her vehicle.  When contact was made with Engvaldsen, the trooper detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage and observed her to have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and acting in an uncooperative manner.  Substantial force had to be employed when placing Engvaldsen under arrest.  A breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .198%.  Engvaldsen was found in possession of glass smoking pipes and a baggie containing white powder.

Oleg Avetisov, age 57 of Dingmans Ferry, PA, was sentenced to 90 days to five years in the Pike County Jail, fined $1,500 and a driver’s license suspension of 18 months for the crime of Driving Under the Influence.  The state police were dispatched to Wild Acres Road where Avetisov crashed his vehicle into a rock on September 28, 2021.  The trooper detected the smell of an alcoholic beverage when speaking with Avetisov.  Avetisov, who admitted to drinking prior to driving, exhibited an inability to follow directions.  Field Sobriety Tests indicated impairment and a breath test confirmed a blood alcohol content of .205%.

Thomas M. Banach, age 34, of Clifton Township, PA, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months, followed by 12 months of probation, a fine of $1,300 and driver’s license suspension of 12 months for the crimes of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving Under the Influence.  On January 30, 2022, the state police stopped Banach after observing an inoperable brake light while he was traveling along SR 507 in Greene Township.  Numerous indicators of criminal activity were observed and a consent to search the vehicle revealed several hypodermic needles and various items associated with drug consumption.  The state police stopped Banach for unsafe driving along SR 507 in Greene Township on February 1, 2022.  Banach was observed shaking and sweating and having glassy, bloodshot eyes and constricted pupils. Banach admitted using Heroin.  Field Sobriety Tests showed impairment.  Banach refused to submit to a blood test.

Pike County District Attorney

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