In Indiana County Court today, a number of defendants will be sentenced, and there are also Plea Courts scheduled for others.
Among those to be sentenced is 44-year-old Allen Beers Jr. of Shelocta, who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for ordering his dog to attack Indiana County sheriff’s deputies who had come to his home to serve a protection from abuse on him. Not only did the dog bite the deputies, but Beers did, too as he fought with the deputies, both of whom required treatment at the Indiana Regional Medical Center.
Jeremy Smith of Stroudsburg, an SCI Pine Grove inmate, will be sentenced for guilty pleas to four felony counts of aggravated assault, with non-prosecution on four felony counts of assault by a prisoner. In January, Smith fought with four prison guards in the prison’s kitchen area. All four of the officers were hurt, including two who suffered head injuries. Smith is serving 36 to 84 months in prison for felony criminal trespass for a 2014 burglary in Monroe County.
Another SCI Pine Grove inmate, James Bonilla-Santiago, will be sentenced for terroristic threats and simple assault for an altercation at the prison that also occurred last January.
Today’s schedule also includes a Plea Court appearance for 40-year-old Randy Shank of Rossiter, who crashed into a utility pole in Canoe Township on March 19th during a police chase. Shank was fleeing from police on Union Hill Road after an incident at a nearby church. He blew through a stop sign and tried to make a sudden right turn right turn, but lost control of his car and went over an embankment, hitting the pole. Police say Shank then got out of the car and tried to run away, but was apprehended. He’s charged with felony fleeing and eluding, misdemeanor DUI, institutional vandalism at a place of worship, institutional vandalism of a cemetery, and resisting arrest, plus twelve summary traffic violations.
Other cases in court today involve defendants charged with theft, DUI, drug violations, and corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children.
