HONESDDALE – Wayne County District Attorney Pat Robinson says Steven John Schuman was sentenced to 54 to 144 months in a State Correctional Institution after pleading guilty in the Court of Common Pleas to aggravated assault with serious bodily injury.
On May 25, the victim was stabbed three times in the neck at a home on Highland Street in Hawley and was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale and eventually to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton for further care, including surgery.
At sentencing, First Assistant DA Deborah Rothenberg read a letter from the victim expressing her continued fear and loss of trust in people. Rothenberg emphasized to Senior Judge Raymond Hamill that the focus of the sentencing hearing should be on the victim and her injuries, in addition to Shuman’s lack of remorse and the aggravated nature of the incident.
DA Robinson said the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office has a zero tolerance policy regarding domestic violence. “This is an excellent example of why a zero tolerance policy is required. Cases like this are usually the result of an escalating pattern of violent behavior,” he said. “Swift and strong action at the beginning of these escalating patterns will deter many abusers from reaching the horrific level of violence exhibited in this case.”
“In any event,” he said, “Defendant Schuman will definitely be deterred from abusing any women for the next four-and-a-half to 12 years.”
Judge Hamill also handed down the following sentences Feb. 22:
APRIL PORRECA, 32, of Greentown was sentenced to the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 12 months nor more than 60 months less 1 day for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, a Misdemeanor of the 1st Degree, and one count of DUI, an ungraded Misdemeanor. She was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a fine in the amount of $1,500, comply with all recommendations of the drug and alcohol assessment, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program, and obtain employment within 30 days of parole. The incident occurred on June 24 in Salem Township.
MARYANN FELLER, 53, of Beach Lake was sentenced to the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 72 hours nor more than 6 months for one count of DUI, an ungraded Misdemeanor. She was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a fine in the amount of $1,000, participate in and cooperate with the drug and alcohol addiction treatment, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety Program, and obtain employment within 30 days of parole. The incident occurred on June11 in Oregon Township. Her BAC was .190%.
ANTHONY JOHN ARNAUDO, 54, Perkasie, PA, was placed on probation for a period of 12 months for one count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, a Misdemeanor of the 2nd Degree. He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution and pay a fine in the amount of $500. The incident occurred on April21 in Damascus Township.
MARIA PIZZO, 44, of Philadelphia was sentenced to the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less than 1 month nor more than 12 months for one count of Criminal Conspiracy-Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition, a Misdemeanor of the 1st Degree. She was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. The incident occurred on December 22 in LehighTownship.
MICHAEL ANDREW BENVENUTO, 26, of Lake Ariel was sentenced to the Wayne County Correctional Facility for a period of not less 15 days nor more than 12 months, for one count of Possession of Controlled Substance-Oxycodone, an ungraded Misdemeanor. He was also ordered to pay the costs of prosecution, pay a fine in the amount of $300, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation. The incident occurred on August 1 in Canaan Township.