HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced the following case was addressed by the Honorable Janine Edwards, President Judge Wayne County Court:

BRANDEN DAVIS, age 30, of Honesdale, PA, was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 5 days followed by 2 years probation with 85 days House Arrest with Electronic Alcohol Monitoring through the SCRAM program for one count of Driving Under the Influence – Controlled Substance (M1). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a mandatory fine of $2,000, complete 100 hours of community service, participate and cooperate with the drug and alcohol addiction treatment in accordance with his assessment, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program, and undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment. The incident occurred on May 10, 2021 in Honesdale Borough.

AHMED CHRISTOPHER ELSHABASSY, age 32, of Independence KS, was sentenced to 6 months probation for one count of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (M). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a mandatory fine of $300, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program, and participate in and cooperate with the drug and alcohol addiction treatment in accordance with his assessment. The incident occurred on September 28, 2019 in Cherry Ridge Township.

VICKY GRASSO, age 57, of Sayreville, PA, was placed on the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition Program for a period of 6 months related to Harassment. She was also ordered to pay all costs, perform 20 hours of community service. The incident occurred on September 23, 2021 in Dreher Township.

BRIAN HAINES, age 39, of Honesdale, PA, was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 30 days nor more than 6 months for one count of Driving While Operating Privilege Suspended/Revoked (S). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay the mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, obtain employment within 30 days of parole or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment, and resolve all outstanding warrants within 30 days of parole. The incident occurred on December 3, 2020 in Lake Township.

REGINALD W. HUBBARD JR., age 37, of Honesdale, PA, was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months for one count of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol-Highest rate (M). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay the mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, participate in and cooperate with the drug and alcohol assessment in accordance with his assessment, and complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program. The incident occurred on March 27, 2021 in Berlin Township.

LAZARUS PETER JACKSON, age 21, of Mayfield, PA, was sentenced to 6 months probation for one count of Possession of Small Amount of Marijuana (M) and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a fine of $200, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment. The incident occurred on July 15, 2021 in Honesdale Borough.

JOEL MERMELSTEIN, age 38, of Brooklyn, NY, was placed on the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition Program for a period of 6 months related to a DUI. He was also ordered to pay all costs, perform 20 hours of community service, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, and have his operator’s license suspended for a period of 60 days. The incident occurred on September 4, 2020 in Lebanon Township.

TIMOTHY JOSEPH RICKERT, age 35, of Honesdale, PA, was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of 90 days followed by 5 years probation with 9 months House Arrest with Electronic Alcohol Monitoring through the SCRAM program for one count Driving Under the Influence-Highest Rate (F3), and Driving Under the Influence-Alcohol (M). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a mandatory minimum fine of $3,250, participate and cooperate with the drug and alcohol assessment in accordance with his assessment, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program, continue with mental health treatment and comply with any recommendations for treatment, comply with and participate in Certified Recovery Services provided by Wayne County Drug and Alcohol, and maintain employment or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment. The incidents occurred on August 18, 2018 and May 12, 2019 in Paupack Township.

LEONARD EDWARD SANDERS, age 45, of Beach Lake, PA, was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 15 months nor more than 60 months for one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals-Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Death (F3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, and must obtain employment within 30 days or provide documentation for a doctor precluding him from employment. The incident occurred on January 2, 2021 in Damascus Township.

MARK A. YANTORN, age 37, of Scranton, PA, was issued a Bench Warrant for failure to appear at court.

ANTHONY MICHAEL FLORA, age 31, of Honesdale, PA, was issued a Bench Warrant for failure to appear at court.