HONESDALE --Wayne County District Attorney A.G. Howell announced the following sentences were handed down in Wayne County Court of Common Pleas by Judge Janine Edwards on Thursday, Aug. 26/
BRIAN A. PONGRACZ, 43, of Lake Ariel was sentenced to undergo incarceration in a State Correctional Institution for a period of not less than 16 months nor more than 60 months for one count of Criminal Trespass – Break Into Structure (F2). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, and pay restitution in the amount of $1,500.00, The incident occurred on November 12, 2020 in South Canaan Township.
CHAUNCEY RAYMOND KENYON, 59, of Scranton was sentenced to undergo incarceration in a State Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 15 months nor more than 36 months for one count of Fail to Verify Address/Be Photographed (F3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. The incident occurred on May 25, 2021 in Texas Township
HEATH PATRICK WILCOX, age 38 of Damascus Pa, was sentenced to undergo incarceration in a State Correctional Institution for a period of not less than 15 months nor more than 60 months for one count of Criminal Trespass – Enter Structure (F3) and one count of Defiant Trespass (M3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. The incidents occurred on April 8, 2020 in Damascus Township and April 23, 2020 in Damascus Township.
JUSTIN EARL TREESE, 38, of Coplay was sentenced to undergo incarceration in a State Correctional Institution for a period of not less than 6 months nor more than 24 months for one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition (M2). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, and pay restitution in the amount of $1,226.90. The incident occurred on September 13, 2020 in Paupack Township.
ALEXANDER SOTO, 23, of Lakeville was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 6 months nor more than 36 months for one count of Possession of Child Pornography (F3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18, undergo a sex offender evaluation while incarcerated and comply with all treatment recommendations, undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, and obtain employment with in 60 days of parole or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment, and register as a Tier 1 offender for 15 years. The incident occurred on February 16, 2017 in Paupack Township.
WILLIAM RICHARD POSSINGER, 58, of Freeland was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 90 days nor more than 60 months for one count of Driving Under the Influence – Highest Rate (M1) and one count of Driving While Operating Privilege Suspended/Revoked (S). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, attend two AA/NA meetings a week while on parole, maintain employment or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment. The incident occurred on March 23, 2018 in Dreher Township.
CHASE VINTON, age 31 of Waymart Pa, previously sentenced on July 16, 2021 to 6 months probation for violation of a PFA was re-sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 3 months nor more than 6 months. He was found to be in violation of Probation for failing to pass a drug test, failing to report for treatment, and failing to report for drug screening.
ALLEN D. BENTLER, 40, of Newfoundland was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne Count Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 2 month nor more than 18 months for one count of Possession of Controlled Substance (Heroin) (M), one count of Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) (M), and one count of Driving while Operating Privilege Suspended/Revoked (S). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a mandatory minimum fine of $200.00, continue with drug and alcohol treatment and comply with any recommendations for treatment, continue with mental health treatment and comply with any recommendations for treatment, and obtain employment within 30 days of parole or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment. The incident occurred on May 15, 2021 in Lehigh Township.
JOHN V. McDONALD, 46 of Moscow was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 15 days nor more than 60 months less 1 day for one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition (F3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay restitution in the amount of $23,368.94, undergo an evaluation for a gambling addiction or problem and behavioral modification and comply with any recommendations for treatment, and obtain employment within 30 days of parole or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment. The incident occurred between November 1, 2019 and October 31, 2020 in Lake Township.
TORI ANN MORGAN, 27, of Honesdale was sentenced to undergo incarceration in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 15 days nor more than 23 ½ months for one count of Retail Theft (M1). She was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay restitution in the amount of $956.00, participate in and cooperate with the drug and alcohol addiction treatment in accordance with her assessment, undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, refrain from entering Walmart in Honesdale, and obtain employment within 60 days of parole or provide documentation from a doctor precluding her from employment. The incident occurred on December 6, 2020 in Texas Township.
JAMES PAUL SMITH, 60, of Prompton Borough was sentenced to 24 months probation for one count of Theft by Deception – False Impression (F3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay restitution in the amount of $16,150.00, and maintain employment while on probation or provide documentation from a doctor precluding him from employment. The incident occurred on December 20, 2019 in Prompton Borough.
LISA A. SWICK, 53, of Honesdale was sentenced to 24 months probation for one count of Retail Theft – Take Merchandise (M1). She was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment, and refrain from entering Walmart while on supervision. The incident occurred on December 3, 2020 in Texas Township.
CALEB JAMES FREY, 27, of Waymart was sentenced to 12 months probation for one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance (M), and one count of Communications with 911 (M3). He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, participate in and cooperate with the drug and alcohol addiction treatment in accordance with his assessment and any recommendations for recovery services through the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission, attend two community peer support groups per week, and undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with any recommendations for treatment. The incident occurred on March 3, 2021 in South Canaan Township.