NORRISTOWN — She’s put hundreds of defendants in prison, but Monday former state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane left a courthouse in handcuffs after a judge sentenced her to serve 10 to 23 months in prison.

Ms. Kane, 50, Waverly Twp., had hoped to get probation or house arrest for her Aug. 15 conviction on charges she leaked grand jury information then lied about her actions. Montgomery County Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy rejected that request, citing the “devastating impact her crimes had on her office and the public at large.”

“This is a case about a politician consumed by ego from day one,” Judge Demchick-Alloy said at the conclusion of the roughly five-hour hearing.

Instead of focusing on fighting crime, Ms. Kane was fixated on battling perceived enemies “and utilizing and exploiting her position to do it,” Judge Demchick-Alloy said.

“A violation of this magnitude by someone in the defendant’s position is extraordinary ... and is especially devastating to the credibility of our criminal justice system,” the judge said.

Neither Ms. Kane nor several dozen supporters who filled the courtroom showed any reaction as the sentence was read. After the prison sentence, Ms. Kane will serve eight years of probation.

The judge granted a defense request to allow Ms. Kane to remain free on bail pending appeal of her conviction. She was immediately taken to the Montgomery

County jail, however, after the judge refused her attorney’s request to be given 24 hours to post $75,000 cash bail. Ms. Kane posted bail and was released after about two hours in custody, according to the Associated Press.

A jury convicted Ms. Kane, a Scranton native who in 2012 became the first Democrat and first woman to be elected attorney general, of two counts each of perjury, false swearing, obstructing the administration of law and conspiracy and one count of official oppression for leaking information about a 2009 grand jury probe of a Philadelphia man to embarrass the prosecutor in that case, whom she viewed as a political enemy. She then lied to the grand jury that investigated the leak.

Ms. Kane’s attorney, Marc Steinberg, acknowledged the seriousness of her crimes but implored the judge to consider Ms. Kane’s life history of public service. He called five witnesses, including Ms. Kane’s 15-year-old son, Christopher, to testify.

The teen told the judge his mother “is like my rock.”

“For her to leave me, it would be bad. It would be tough on all of us,” he said.

Ms. Kane also addressed the court, telling the judge she did not care about herself, but feared the impact being sent to prison would have on Christopher and her other son, Zachary, 14.

“I know there is nothing worse in the world than to watch your children suffer,” Ms. Kane said.

Choking back tears, she spoke about how hard it would be “not to hear their voices and not to see their faces.”

“The past few days have been the worst yet. I felt so sick to my stomach. I couldn’t stop crying,” she said.

Judge Demchick-Alloy said that while she felt for the boys, they were “collateral damage” from Ms. Kane’s actions.

“I feel sorry for them but you made these decisions, not the court,” she said.

Several other witnesses, including former Hazleton police chief Frank D’Andrea, spoke of the good she had done in her life, first as a Lackawanna County prosecutor who focused on sexual abuse cases and then as attorney general.

The judge acknowledged her good work, but said it was “eclipsed” by the egregiousness of her crimes. Any sentence other than incarceration would diminish the seriousness of her offenses.

“When perjury is committed ... it is the ultimate assault on the judiciary,” the judge said, her voice rising. “Here the oath was violated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General, the highest law enforcement officer in the state who was entrusted to enforce the law, not break it.”

Speaking after the hearing, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and his assistant prosecutor, Michelle Henry, said they hoped Ms. Kane’s conviction and sentence sent a message that “no one is above the law.”

“What this defendant did was despicable,” said Ms. Henry, a Bucks County prosecutor who was specially appointed to assist with the case. “She put her desire for revenge above everything else. Everyone deserves better. Today, when she was taken out in handcuffs, there was finally justice.”

Mr. Steele called three witnesses, including a current and former prosecutor in the attorney general’s office. Both spoke about how they enthusiastically embraced Ms. Kane when she took office in January 2013. That excitement eroded quickly, however.

Erik Olsen, chief of the criminal division, said Ms. Kane isolated herself in the office with a select group of people.

“Through a pattern of systematic firings ...she created a terror zone,” Mr. Olsen said.

Clarke Madden, a former deputy attorney general, said he and others had “tremendous pride” in the work they did. That changed after Ms. Kane came under investigation for the leak of the grand jury information

“There was a poison cloud in the corner of the office,” he said.

Ms. Kane’s trial attorneys are expected to appeal her conviction to the state Superior Court. If she loses there, they will seek to appeal to the state Supreme Court. She will remain free during that process, which will likely take a year or longer.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and Democrat Katie McGinty plowed through a fast-paced, final debate Monday night, as they shook off questions at times to focus exclusively on attacking their opponent in Pennsylvania's neck-and-neck race.

The candidates fielded 16 questions in the live, televised hour-long debate at Temple University that put the candidates' deep ideological divide on display. The strident attacks also underscored the closeness of the race.

The first-term Toomey is among the Senate's most endangered Republicans, running for re-election in Democratic-leaning Pennsylvania after compiling one of the most conservative voting records in Congress.

The GOP is struggling to keep its 54-46 Senate majority, and the neck-and-neck race could tip control to Democrats.

At one point, the two quarreled over whose side had to pull down a TV ad. At times, whole questions went unanswered while they attacked each other. They even squabbled over a question about whether months of negative campaign ads in the expensive race contributed to a general sense of distrust of and distaste for politics and government.

"I'm not sure your respective answers have done much to eliminate distrust and distaste," moderator Jim Gardner of WPVI-TV in Philadelphia told them.

On a question about gun control, Toomey said he would be better than McGinty at finding compromise, while McGinty said she would be better at leading on the issue.

Other times, McGinty tried to frame Toomey as an out-of-touch Washington insider, suggesting that he had missed "some 90 percent of the key committee hearings and meetings on our critical national security issues" and that he had been in Washington for 18 years — six as a senator — and done nothing to improve health care access.

Toomey, who supports repealing President Barack Obama's health care law, called McGinty's claim about missing committee hearings false, and repeatedly sought to paint her as a habitual liar. He several times referred back to her statements made on the campaign trail that she was the first in her family to go to college before a news report emerged in June that showed an older brother had graduated from college years earlier.

Toomey used that example to tie McGinty to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who McGinty has endorsed, campaigned with and backed on key policy positions.

"Maybe it's Katie McGinty's problem with the truth that allows her to overlook Hillary Clinton's chronic lies," Toomey said.

Meanwhile, Toomey stuck to a tightrope of not endorsing GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, but not disavowing him, either. Pressed on whether he should tell voters who he will vote for, Toomey said, "I don't think my constituents care that much how one person is going to vote."

On abortion, the talk got tough, as Democrats have sought to use the issue against Toomey with moderate voters in Philadelphia's heavily populated suburbs. Toomey, who opposes abortion rights, and McGinty tried to paint each other as extreme.

"You don't perform an abortion on a baby that's about to be delivered, someone that's very far along, a 7-pound baby girl kicking in her mother's womb, but Katie McGinty's perfectly fine with that," Toomey said. "There's no point at which an abortion should be unacceptable for her."

McGinty said she stands for allowing women to make decisions that are medically complex with their families and doctors.

"Senator, this should be not about politics, and your position on this has been decidedly out of the mainstream, joining with Donald Trump in saying that women or their doctors should be jailed for having to make these excruciating decisions," McGinty said.

Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau will market the area’s night life, historical attractions and outdoor amenities in a new systematic effort to draw tourists who live within a three-hour drive.

The approach is a feature of the organization’s first-ever strategic plan that staff created after Young Strategies completed the bureau’s first study of tourism trends in Lackawanna County and found room for growth in the $633.3 million industry.

Susan Estler, a career tourism professional who became executive director of the bureau in June 2014, described the initiatives as key to making the organization more professional, research-driven and effective in a competitive tourist market.

George Kelly, Lackawanna County’s economic development director, said the strategy is another example of Ms. Estler expanding the bureau’s reach and vision.

“She’s truly running it like a business,” Mr. Kelly said. “She’s engaging the stakeholders. She’s working closely with the county, legislators and the larger partners in the hospitality business such as the (Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre) RailRiders. She’s raised the bar and provided a downtown presence in Scranton, which is kind of the heart of tourism here.”

In a county with attractions ranging from Montage Mountain Ski Resort and Waterpark to the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, the strategic plan focuses on seasonal marketing to Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Maryland residents rather than building a single brand.

Growth opportunities the plan emphasizes include: marketing farmers and artisan markets; the region’s culinary options and themed restaurant weeks; trolley and rail excursions; downtown biking and hiking trails; and concerts and outdoor musical events.

Ms. Estler, a New Jersey native who spent more than a decade of her career at visitors bureaus in Florida before coming to Northeast Pennsylvania, said she came to Lackawanna County because she saw so much potential for the region.

“So many people who came here had the same positive impression of the area,” Ms. Estler said. “(The consultant) created a word cloud (from interviews of visitors), and some of the most common words were things like ‘friendly’ and ‘beautiful.’ It’s a viable tourist destination. Many of the people who grew up here, they don’t appreciate what a special place it is.”

The plan also highlights numerous strategies including a comprehensive effort to improve signs to help visitors find attractions more easily, a more robust digital and social media presence, providing maps and guides at attractions, lodging and large events and training hospitality industry workers to give visitors more information about things to do.

John Argonish, vice chairman for the bureau’s board of directors, said he thinks the study will make a big difference to help staff focus on the county’s target audience and improve the visitor experience.

He expects to see real progress rather than the plan getting tucked into a drawer and becoming forgotten.

“We have just as good facilities as they have in the Allentown area and the Poconos,” said Mr. Argonish, the general manager of the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center. “We have a really unique blend of things to do. ... There aren’t a lot of places that have a city feel, where you have the trails and access to things like trout fishing and trolley and train rides like you do here. We have a really unique setting, and we have to capitalize on it.”

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Trail gets grant

Countryside Conservancy will receive a $100,100 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Project to help complete the third phase of work on the Trolley Trail, a nonmotorized multi-use trail under development on the abandoned Northern Electric railway line. The trail is intended to run 14 miles and connect six municipalities: Clarks Summit, Glenburn Twp., Dalton, La Plume Twp., Factoryville and Overfield Twp. The third phase will construct a more than half-mile trail through La Plume Twp. to Keystone College.

— CLAYTON OVER

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Ryan Scott Leff, Clarks Summit, and Ashly D. Doung, Lowell, Massachusetts.

■ Eva Marie Crane and Jeffrey Charles Puterbaugh, both of West Abington Twp.

■ Mia Nicole Villani and William Eugene Yeager, both of Dunmore.

■ Samantha Leigh Jones, Old Forge, and Terry Lee Eyerman Jr., Wilkes-Barre.

■ Pedro Jacobo Molina-Flores and Rosa Emilia Del Cid-Coreas, both of Dickson City.

■ Julio Cesar Casado-Sanchez and Glady Ernestina Pimentel-

Pimentel, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Alan Serniak, Rhode Island, to Jonathan Turley; a property at 9 Kraft St., Archbald, for $92,500.

■ Emerson Beach Land Holdings LLC, Moosic, to Daniel J. and Maura D. Reilly, both of Dunmore; a property at 223 Swinick Drive, Dunmore, for $238,000.

■ Martha Lee Heffers, Moosic, and Regina Heffers, Sea Cliff, N.Y., to Kyle Lanphear and Samantha Seewald, both of Moosic; a property at 210 Walnut St., Moosic, for $87,000.

■ Wells Fargo Bank NA, as trustee for certificate holders of Bear Sterns Asset-Backed Securities Trust, to Christopher and Kevin Roshak; a property at 369 Virginia Ave., Blakely, for $76,000.

■ John David and Julia B. Yanek, both of South Abington Twp., to Joshua M. and Emily R. Legat, both of Clarks Green; a property at 120 Maggies Road, South Abington Twp., for $230,000.

■ Wells Fargo Bank NA, Frederick, Md., to Michael J. Siciliano, Scranton; a property at 113 N. Sumner Ave., Scranton, for $64,600.

■ Alan Krenitsky, Scranton, and Diane Krenitsky Sezwczyk aka Diane Krenitsky-Szewczyk, Blakely, to Ernest D. Mengoni, Jessup; a property at 718 River St., Blakely, for $92,000.

■ Michael D. Beanland and Mary Elizabeth Koethe, by their agent Amy L. Feisel, assistant vice president of Cartus Financial Corp., South Abington Twp., to Cartus Financial Corp.; a property at 315 Layton Road, South Abington Twp., for $155,500.

■ Cartus Financial Corp., to Frank Talarico; a property at 315 Layton Road, South Abington Twp., for $155,500.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Angela T. Zanghi, Scranton, v. Ross P. Zanghi, Scranton; married Sept. 3, 1988, in Scranton; Raymond W. Ferrario, attorney.

■ Kara A. Gondella, Dalton, v. Gregory Gondella Jr., Scranton; married Sept. 25, 2009; Ryan P. Campbell, attorney.

ESTATES FILED

■ Rita A. Gatto, 109 Frank St., Dunmore, letters testamentary to Joseph A. Gatto Jr., same address.

■ Leonard E. Wenzel Sr. aka Leonard E. Wegrzyn, 1408 S. Irving Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Kimberly A. (Wenzel) Heffner, 1137 Philo St., Scranton.

■ Helen Elizabeth Mercincavage aka Helen Mercincavage aka Helen Propper, 516 Breck St., Scranton, letters of administration to Robert A. Mercincavage, same address.

FEDERAL TAX LIENS

■ Gloria Mraz, 118 Center St., Jessup; $108,285.84.

■ Cerra Signs Inc., 24 Sixth Ave., Carbondale; $3,924.47.

■ Cory Wombacker, 1407 Academy St., Scranton; $99,375.70.

■ Jonathan E. Olivetti, 201 Franklin Ave., 3rd Floor, Scranton; $94,389.82.

■ Robert Masci and Rebecca Malcolm, both of 107 Maria Blvd., Archbald; $74,735.44.

■ KNL Construction Inc., 33 Aberdeen Road, Moscow; $87,452.56.

BENCH WARRANTS

The following warrants have been issued by Judge Julia Munley for failure to appear for child support contempt hearings:

■ David L. Karp, 908 Fox Road, Factoryville; $1, 452.

■ Thomas E. Keegan, 711 Jackson St., Dickson City; $1,854.19.

■ Jennifer L. Ketch, 1335 Sanderson Ave., Scranton; $541.24.

■ John M. Kraynik, 144 Eighth Ave., Carbondale; $9,773.96.

■ Michael D. Montafia, 227 Maple St., Dickson City; $5,539.49.

■ Devon R. Odom, 102 Belmont Ave., Clarks Green; $8,320.79.

■ Natosha Payne, 122 Russell St., Honesdale; $408.30.

■ David Ramirez Jr., 338 Elm St., Scranton; $1,412.58.

■ Joseph P. Reidy III, 28 Canaan St., Carbondale; $10,751.84.

■ Adam R. Smith, 1021 Lookout Drive, Scranton; $2,183.36.

■ Robert J. Staples, 1117 Monroe Ave., Dunmore; $592.

Anyone with any information on the above is asked to call the child support hotline at 570-963-6721 ext. 8160.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

A 21-year-old man accused of raping a 13-year-old may face trial after he waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Police charged Edilson Cabral-Correia, 1068 Pear St., Scranton, with rape, statutory rape, sexual assault and other counts stemming from incidents earlier this year in Scranton. City police started investigating Mr. Cabral-Correia in late July, when the girl’s mother reported possible sexual contact.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Detectives later talked to the teen at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania. She told them she and Mr. Cabral-Correia had messaged each other

on Facebook since February and that he portrayed himself as being 17 years old, according to court documents.

The girl also told police she performed oral sex on Mr. Cabral-Correia in an alley behind a Convenient store on Pittston Avenue and in July he forced her to have sex with him, according to court documents.

Mr. Cabral-Correia is held in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $120,000 bail.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

HARRISBURG

Old Forge educator named to state board

Old Forge Elementary Principal Nathan C. Barrett will serve on the state Board of Education.

Mr. Barrett, a Scranton resident, was Governor Tom Wolf’s nominee. State Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, sponsored Mr. Barrett for the position.

Every other month for two days, Mr. Barrett will travel to Harrisburg and help review, develop and adopt regulations to govern basic and higher education.

Mr. Barrett, a teacher for 10 years, is a former Scranton School District board member who chaired the Career Technology Center Joint Operating Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Science in education from East Stroudsburg University and a Master of Science in education leadership from Wilkes University.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

, according to a press release. The board also approves state academic standards, among other issues.

Every other month for two days

, Mr. Barrett will travel to Harrisburg and work closely with the Department of Education, state policy makers and educators to review, develop and adopt regulations to govern both basic and higher education, according to a press release. The board also approves state academic standards, among other issues.

The painting of airplane-shaped pavement markers on the roundabouts leading to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is postponed until Friday.

The work was supposed to take place Tuesday but was delayed because of rain, according to the state Department of Transportation.

In total, 11 airplanes will be painted on the roadways to help motorists headed to the airport navigate the roundabouts, which some drivers find confusing.

PennDOT officials ask motorists to use caution during the work.

— STAFF REPORT

An early morning fire in West Scranton on Tuesday displaced nine residents of a three-unit apartment house.

The fire at 509 12th Ave., reported around 3:30 a.m., broke out in the area of a clothes dryer, Fire Chief Pat DeSarno said. City fire inspectors were still trying to determine the exact cause, he said, but the fire is considered accidental.

One of the three apartments had significant fire damage, Chief DeSarno said. The other two units were largely undamaged, but the occupants will not be allowed to return until the two-story building undergoes a general inspection.

The American Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is assisting the displaced residents.

Above, Fire Marshal Martin Monahan passes charred debris to firefighters. At right, fire investigator Jack Joyce begins his investigation.

Artists of Bogart

open their shops

The Artists of Bogart Court officially opened their boutique shops with a ribbon-cutting ceremony behind the Renaissance at 500 Lackawanna Ave. in Downtown Scranton.

Artists Kari Johnson, AOS Metals; Trinka Ravaioli, Grapevine Design & Trinka Studios; Trinity Studio & Gallery, Jennifer Blewitt Photography, Maryclaire Jordan and Noreen Blewitt, won the Kickstart Art Challenge, a multi-phase competition that resulted in prizes including free tenancy at Bogart Court for six months with a lease of up to a year.

Meeting the artists, shopping in the boutique stores and surrounding businesses, and experiencing the atmosphere that the Bogart Court Arts District has to offer, followed the ribbon cutting, which was attended by city and county officials as well as Leigh Magnotta, business consultant, the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center, and Donald Rinaldi , developer of the Renaissance at 500 Lackawanna Ave.

Shops in the court offer photography, fine art, jewelry, sculpture and more. The grand opening event featured music and light refreshments followed the next day by a variety of family and children’s activities.

Super students

Wilkes University students completing internships as part of their academic work in the fall semester include: Jennifer Baron, Vandling; Rachel Brozusky, Tunkhannock; Zyaire Crowder, Mount Pocono; Kevin Klatt, Dunmore; Rachel Leandri, Wyoming; and Matt Wheeland , Clarks Summit. ... University of Scranton education majors student teaching for the fall semester include: Megan Connor of Nesconset, New York, Lakeside Elementary; Nicole Divivo of Mahwah, New Jersey, Valley View Elementary; Kelsey Goodson of Olyphant, John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary; Emily Goss of Morristown, New Jersey, Valley View Middle; Marina Massa of Dix Hills, New York, John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary; Samantha Mojica of Bronx, New York, Lakeland Elementary/Mayfield Campus; Jessica Muccigrosso of Brooklyn, New York, Isaac Tripp Elementary; Katie Plucker of Upper Chichester, Valley View Elementary; Stephanie Rush of Yonkers, New York, Isaac Tripp Elementary; Taylor Schuck of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, Valley View Intermediate; Angela Szczecina of Howell, New Jersey, Valley View Elementary; Katelyn Talty of Rockville Centre, New York, Lakeland Elementary/Mayfield Campus; Samantha Wojcik of Brooklyn, New York, Stourbridge Primary; and Elizabeth Yorey of Wayne, New Jersey, Isaac Tripp Elementary.

High notes

Pittston Knights of Columbus John F. Kennedy Council 372 showed their appreciation to Quinn’s Market for their continuing generosity and support with a plaque presentation attended by Faithful Navigator Fran Ankenbrand and Grand Knight Rick Korpusik along with Quinn’s Manager Bill Krenitsky and front end Manager Sandy Alba.

SCRANTON

Tobyhanna man nabbed for heroin

A Tobyhanna man is facing drug charges after police said they bought heroin from him in Scranton on Tuesday.

Police set up a deal to buy heroin from Floyd “Flex” Bernard, 32, in the 1100 block of South Washington Avenue. When they arrested Mr. Bernard, 312 Mohansic Lane, Tobyhanna, police found 25 bags of heroin stamped “SAVAGE” and $240 cash.

Bail and preliminary hearing information were not available late Tuesday.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

A man faces aggravated assault and other charges after police say he hit another man in the face with a golf club at McGinty’s Bar, 1557 Dickson Ave.

Jose Gonzalez, 44, listed as homeless, was taken into custody along Green Ridge Street about four hours after the incident, which happened Saturday at 11:36 p.m., police said.

Surveillance video showed Mr. Gonzalez pull the club from inside his jacket, turn toward victim Bismark Hernandez and strike him in the face before fleeing, police said. Mr. Gonzalez later told police he suspected Mr. Hernandez of having a relationship with his girlfriend.

Mr. Gonzalez was held in the Lackawanna County Prison on $25,000 bail pending a preliminary hearing Monday at 10 a.m.

— DAVID SINGLETON

An unseasonably warm winter and cold spring shouldn’t stop the Poconos from logging a record number of visitors and tourism spending.

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau delivered its annual report at a luncheon recently, sharing data that showed that in 2014, the most recent data available, 25.6 million visitors spent $3 billion in the four counties served by the bureau: Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. The data are provided by Longwoods International for even-numbered years.

That marks a record and sets the table for another high point year, said Carl Wilgus, executive director of the bureau.

The largest portion of that $3 billion of spending goes toward lodging, a slice of the pie likely to increase. The last fiscal year of the bureau — July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 — saw the opening of four new properties, Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Water Park, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, the Hampton Inn and Suites, and the Fairfield Inn and Suites, a net increase of approximately 1,100 rooms.

The boost in room demand and capacity led to a direct increase in visitors bureau revenue, the primary source of which is a hotel room tax, which rose 38 percent to $7.2 million. The bureau’s total revenue for the 2016 fiscal year was $9.1 million.

Soggy winter

A warm winter prompted a skiing and snowboarding visitation drop of 35 percent to 646,221, the lowest in at least a decade and nearly half the visitors in the peak year of 2009.

The golf and ski industries face other challenges, Mr. Wilgus said. The average age of those who enjoy those activities is creeping up, and fewer seem willing to spend the money needed to take on such a hobby.

The other downside in the report was the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the largest attraction in the area. But it drew only about 3.8 million people in 2015, down about 21 percent, according to National Park numbers.

Open for business

In typical destinations, business travel amounts to 30 to 40 percent of visitations. But in the Poconos, business travelers were just 5 percent of the mix in 2014. The bureau would like to double that. Business travel, meetings, retreats and conferences tend to occur mid-week, when leisure visits are light, Mr. Wilgus notes.

Non-U.S. visitors are a more important part of the tourism landscape. Much of the increase is from China. As a nation, China sends more visitors to the Poconos than any non-English speaking country. The increase may be due to the gaming traditions in Asian cultures and Mount Airy Resort and Casino marketing heavily to Asian communities.

The Pocono Mountains website has a Chinese landing page and the bureau has commercials in Mandarin and Spanish.

While gaming is part of the surge of Asian visitors, Mr. Wilgus said, those visitors are increasingly frequenting attractions such as the Lodge at Woodloch, which sold 400 packages as a result of target marketing. Pocono Whitewater Rafting hosted 3,000 Chinese raft tours.

Monroe County Commissioner John Moyer said he is “satisfied” with the results and the work of the bureau. He would like to see a greater emphasis on attractions beyond the water parks, zip lines and resorts.

“We have worked with state and federal officials to conserve vast tracts of natural spaces for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors,” he said. “I’d like to see a greater emphasis on these public, outdoor spaces.”

Contact the writer:

dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

CLARKS SUMMIT — The borough’s new mayor didn’t have to go far to take his new seat — two chairs to his left, to be precise.

Borough council voted 3-2, with one abstention, to name council Vice President Herman Johnson, to the position at a special meeting Tuesday night. After Lackawanna County Judge Julia K. Munley swore him in, Mr. Johnson shifted to his new place at the mayor’s seat in council chambers.

Mr. Johnson pointed to his nine-year tenure on council and 15 years as a part-time borough police officer as a reason for pursuing the mayor’s position. The mayor oversees the borough’s police department, among other duties.

“My heart is in the police department and the safety of our community,” Mr. Johnson said after the meeting. “I feel that I had to step up to the plate and provide that safety to the residents of our borough.

Council President Gerrie Carey and Councilmen Dominic Scott and Patrick Williams all voted in favor of making Mr. Johnson mayor. Councilmen Bob Bennett and Vince Cruciani voted no. Councilman David Jenkins abstained from the vote.

Mr. Bennett declined to comment on his no vote. Mr. Cruciani expressed concerns about Mr. Johnson.

“I have unresolved concerns regarding his demeanor and its application to emergency police powers,” Mr. Cruciani said after the meeting.

The mayoral seat has been vacant since the conclusion of the regular meeting earlier this month, when former Mayor Patty Lawler left office after she moved from the borough to Clarks Green.

When asked about plans in his new capacity, Mr. Johnson commended

his predecessor, saying he didn’t think he’d have to tweak anything as mayor and would wait six months before making any

decisions on goals while in office.

Council also had to vote Tuesday to replace Mr. Johnson, both on council and as the body’s vice president. Members unanimously voted to name Frank Besten as a council member. They also voted 5-1 to make Mr. Jenkins vice president. Mr. Williams cast the dissenting vote.

Borough council members make $2,500 annually and the borough mayor $5,000 a year, borough manager Virginia Kehoe said. Mr. Besten will serve out the rest of Mr. Johnson’s term on council and Mr. Johnson the remainder of Ms. Lawler’s as mayor.

Contact the writer: cover@timesshamrock.com, @ClaytonOver on Twitter

HONESDALE

Man may face trial for brother’s death

A man accused of shooting and killing his brother last month may be headed to trial.

After a preliminary hearing, Magisterial District Judge Ron Edwards found enough evidence to send a criminal homicide charge against Antonio Cilino, 30, to the county’s Court of Common Pleas, District Attorney Janine Edwards said Tuesday. On Sept. 2, Mr. Cilino spotted his brother, Joseph Cilino, in a car with his ex-girlfriend, Brooke Nicole Swingle of Hawley, and Antonio and Brooke’s 1-year-old child. Antonio Cilino followed the vehicle and, after a confrontation in Damascus Twp., shot Joseph in the chest, police said.

Antonio Cilino remains in Wayne County Prison without bail.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — A fraternity of Catholic priests will move its North American headquarters to where Baptist men learned how to better serve Christ.

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter bought Clarks Summit University’s seminary building for $1.2 million this month and will relocate from Elmhurst Twp. The former Baptist Bible College already vacated the seminary on Venard Road, holding most of its seminary classes online and with room to accommodate classes at its main academic building on campus.

Twelve lay people will work at the fraternity’s headquarters, helping administer and coordinate the work of 100 priests who work in the United States and Canada, said the Rev. Gerard Saguto, F.S.S.P., district superior.

The Gregory the Great Academy, a Catholic boarding school for boys, will acquire the Elmhurst headquarters on Griffin Pond Road. The school is the former St. Gregory’s Academy, closed by the order in 2012, but reopened shortly after by a group of alumni acting

independently.

The seminary building is a smaller, more manageable space and better fits the order’s needs, the Rev. Saguto said. He hopes to make the move by February. A bookstore and chapel inside the building will be open to the public. The $1.2 million purchase price includes a total of 3.86 acres.

With about 100 seminary students at CSU, the program is doing well, said Mel Walker, vice president for alumni, communications and external relations. About 80 percent of seminary classes are done online, even for the doctoral programs. Classroom space is available in Jackson Hall.

“The seminary is not in trouble,” he said. “The day-to-day practice of having a building for a few students” didn’t make sense anymore, he said.

The college’s board of trustees decided that half the purchase price would pay down long-term debt, and the other half will be used to help with expenses this year, Mr. Walker said.

“We’re thankful to have them as neighbors,” he said.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Dunmore

Spaghetti dinner: Dunmore Rotary Club spaghetti dinner, Nov. 6, noon-4 p.m., Carmella’s Restaurant, Erie Street, $9/adults,$4/children, wine basket cheer basket; tickets: Sack’s Tailor Shop, 127 S. Blakley St., Dunmore, or door; benefits Patrick Dougherty, a recent graduate of Dunmore High School battling testicular cancer.

Elmhurst

Soup/sandwich: Elmhurst Presbyterian Church Deacons, soup and sandwich luncheon, Sunday after 11 a.m. service.

Luncheon/cards: Women of Elmhurst Country Club luncheon/card party Friday, noon, club; reservations Barbara Whitford, 570-842-8841.

Jefferson Twp.

Children’s event: Light of Christ Church kids’ wild (stuffed) animal hunt, Saturday, 2-4 p.m., 2071 Moosic Lake Road, Route 247, Jefferson Twp.; kids hunt stuffed animals, enjoy face painting, crafts, prizes and treats; $2.

Justus

Gospel concert: Mount Bethel Baptist Church gospel music concert featuring Paul Kester, Tom Gentry and Burrell Deats, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., 1341 Layton Road; free-will offering split between Anna Young’s Prison Ministry and Joseph’s Hope Ministry; refreshments follow.

Lackawanna County

LRCA benefit: Rock ‘N the River Lackawanna River Conservation Association benefit, music/dancing/regional bands, Nov. 4, 6 p.m., ballroom, Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, Adams Avenue, Scranton, $20/cash at door, $15/advance online at: http://rockntheriver2016.eventbrite.com or at LRCA office, 2006 N. Main Ave., Scranton; 570-347-6311, lrca@lrca.org.

Sock donation: Voluntary Action Center’s volunteer center and RSVP’s 14th annual “Make a Difference Day” Project, through Monday, accepting new socks — any size, color or style — to be distributed to human service agencies and shelters throughout Lackawanna County; 570-347-5616 or npost@vacnepa.org.

Mission Hoedown: Marley’s Mission Downtown Hoedown for Hope, Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m., Backyard Ale House, 523 Linden St., Scranton; $50, auction@mar

leymission.com, 570-587-HOPE; checks to: Marley’s Mission, P.O. Box 505, Scranton, PA 18505.

Bus trip: Jeanne Jugan Associates, Sands casino and outlet shopping bus trip to benefit Christmas present drive

for the residents of Holy Family Residence; Nov. 19, leaves parking lot of Holy Family Residence, 2500 Adams Ave., Scranton, 9:30 a.m., returns 6:30 p.m.; $35/ includes $20 of slot play, $5 food voucher, outlet store coupon book, snacks on bus; 21 and older; reservations: Jackie Galvin, director of development and communications, 570-343-4065 ext. 3144, or scdevelopment@little

sistersofthepoor.org by Nov. 14.

Free concert: Marywood University’s music, theater and dance department free orchestra ensemble performance, Saturday, 2 p.m., Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts; music by Mozart, Copland, Sibelius and Boston-based composer Joe Elizondo; details: email dept.mtd@marywood.edu, or call the music, theater and dance department, 570-961-4721.

Transitioning program: Counseling & Wellness Center Scranton free educational presentation “Transgender Q&A,”Friday, 4-6 p.m., Cedar Point Offices, 509 Cedar Ave., Scranton; informal/interactive discussion led by Amanda Glynn Porter of the Lehigh Valley chapter of the Renaissance Transgender Association.

Mayfield

Firefighters meet: Whitmore/Mayfield hose companies meetings, Nov. 8, 7:30 and 8 p.m., respectively, company buildings.

Bookmobile visit: Lackawanna County Bookmobile, Nov. 7, 9-9:30 a.m., Mayfield Municipal Building, 739 Penn Ave.

Midvalley

Pasta dinner: Nadine Cenci Marchegiani Foundation pasta dinner, Saturday, 5-8 p.m., Café Soriano, 523 Main St., Peckville; takeouts available, basket raffles; dinners/$10, porketta sandwiches/$3.50; dinner reservations, 570-383-5425; tickets, Ken 570-383-0783, 570-499-1794; Kim, 570-430-3850.

Moosic

Seniors Halloween: After 50 Club Halloween party, Thursday, 1 p.m., Greenwood Hose Company, Birney Avenue.

North Scranton

Turkey dinner: North Scranton Rotary inaugural turkey dinner, Sunday, 1-4 p.m., Community Center at North Scranton Junior High School, 1539 N. Main Ave.; turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, dessert; takeouts available; tickets $10 (10 percent discount for residents of Apartments at North and families), available at Sidel’s Restaurant, or email northscrantonro

tary@gmail.com.

Old Forge

Society meeting: Old Forge Historical Society meeting Thursday, 7 p.m., rear lower level community room, Borough Building; parking in rear; discussing Our Town project, Snow Forge, Peoples Security Bank display.

Historical display: Old Forge Historical Society & Peoples Security Bank historical memorabilia display, Friday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., at bank; bring old items/photos, refreshments, members answering questions.

Pike County

Open house: Pike County Conservation District Open House Nov. 9, 4-6 p.m., PCCD office, celebrating outreach program expansion, introducing Rebecca Holler, Education and Outreach Coordinator; details, contact Ms. Holler, 570-226-8220 or rholler@pikepa.org.

Rileyville

Snack and paint: St. Joseph Church Snack and Paint event, Nov. 3, 5-8:30 p.m., Equinunk Fire House, Lookout, paint Christmas scene on a ginger jar, supplies provided; snacks, desserts, beverages, BYOB; proceeds benefit church hall building fund; reservations: Kathy, 570-224-4934.

Scranton

Club meeting: Theresians International of Scranton: meeting, Nov. 8, patriotic rosary, 11:30 a.m., Mass, 12:10, Immaculate Conception Church, 801 Taylor Ave.; luncheon, 12:45 p.m., Cooper’s Seafood House, 701 N. Washington Ave.

Open house: Electric City Toastmasters Open House, Nov. 8, 6:30-8 p.m., Allied Health Services, Charles Luger Outpatient Clinic, Administrative Board Room, 475 Morgan Highway; showcasing typical Toastmasters meeting.

South Scranton

Seniors meet: Friendly Seniors of South Scranton meeting, Nov. 1, 12:30 p.m., St. Paul of the Cross Parish Center, Prospect Avenue.

Throop

Watch meeting: Throop Neighborhood Watch meeting Thursday, 7 p.m., Throop Civic Center; District Attorney Shane Scanlon, speaker.

Date correction: Throop Borough November yard waste collections, Mondays, Nov. 7 and 28; curbside by 7 a.m.

Upvalley

Gun raffle: Meredith Hose Company gun/cash option raffle, Nov. 5, 5-9:30 p.m., 100 Main St., Childs; food/refreshments, $20 limited to 325 tickets; 570-282-3102.

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rock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

Lesjofors Springs America Inc. will open its U.S. manufacturing headquarters in CenterPoint Commerce and Trade Park East in Jenkins Twp.

The company manufactures springs used in industrial hose reels, fall safety equipment, outdoor power equipment, elevator door closures and other specialized applications.

Its current manufacturing operation and employees are relocating from the Ivy Industrial Park near Waverly to CenterPoint, where it has leased 61,656 square feet of space in a building at 250 Research Drive recently constructed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services.

Lesjofors officials would not immediately say how many jobs are currently in Waverly, but Mericle spokesman Jim Cummings said company officials asked for 65 parking spaces to accommodate current and future employees.

Lesjofors CEO Brandy Davis could not immediately be reached for comment, but said in a press release they needed more space and “it was important for us to stay in the area and retain our skilled workforce.”

“We chose CenterPoint because of its central location and close proximity to all of the major interstate highways in the area,” Ms. Davis said in a statement. “We have doubled our square footage, allowing us the opportunity to optimize and expand our power spring operation. The space will also house the first distribution warehouse for the Lesjofors Automotive business in the U.S., servicing the North American market.”

Mericle Vice President Bob Besecker, who coordinated the real estate transaction, said the project gives Lesjofors the room they need to grow in the region.

“Our CenterPoint building gives Lesjofors about twice the space they had in Ivy Industrial Park,” Mr. Besecker said. “Being able to retain these manufacturing jobs with the potential to add more is definitely a win for the region.”

Mericle recently constructed the 279,000-square-foot building.

QuietFlex Manufacturing also recently moved into the building.

“We are seeing an uptick in requests for space from manufacturers,” Mr. Besecker said.

Lesjofors becomes the 44th tenant in CenterPoint. There are now 29 buildings in the park, totaling seven million square feet, Mr. Cummings said.

Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Michelle Mikitish congratulated Lesjofors on the expansion and praised the company for keeping its U.S. manufacturing headquarters in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

Defense attorneys and prosecutors in the Eric Matthew Frein case will chose a jury March 9-13 and possibly beyond from a pool in Chester County, Judge Gregory H. Chelak announced in an order filed Friday.

By law, Mr. Frein will also make the trip to Chester County for the jury selection, said Michael Weinstein, one of the defendant’s attorneys.

The trial will likely begin in Pike County shortly after the selection of the jury, possibly the first week in April, said District Attorney Ray Tonkin. His office is seeking the death penalty.

Prosecutors accuse Mr. Frein, 33, of Canadensis, of killing state police Cpl. Bryon Dickson of Dunmore and wounding Trooper Alex Douglass of Olyphant in the ambush on the Blooming Grove barracks in September 2014. After a 48-day manhunt, officers captured Mr. Frein at an abandoned airport hangar in Monroe County.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty and remains in Pike County Correctional Facility.

Though the decision ultimately lies with the judge, Mr. Frein’s other attorney, William Ruzzo, said the jury will likely be sequestered in a hotel in Milford during the trial rather than ferried back and forth the 2½ hours between Pike and Chester counties.

Using an out-of-county jury is extremely rare. A defense attorney for the past 25 years, Mr. Ruzzo said he had encountered the tactic twice in his career.

Mr. Frein’s attorneys had originally asked the court to move the trial outside the county, so he would not be tried by a local jury exposed to the intense media coverage of the crime. They compromised with prosecutors to bring a jury into Pike County.

It would be the first time in more than 30 years that Pike County imported a jury to hear a case, said Mr. Weinstein, a former district attorney in the county.

Contact the writer: pcameron@timesshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter

Pennsylvania State Police closed the criminal investigation into Scranton double pension recipients after determining no charges potentially could be filed because the statute of limitations has expired.

The decision, announced Tuesday, ends the criminal probe, but will not impact the nonuniform pension board’s continuing efforts to halt the excess benefits and recoup money already paid, pension board solicitor Larry Durkin said.

The investigation involved an incentive then-Mayor Chris Doherty granted to 26 employees who retired by Dec. 31, 2002. An additional nine employees who retired in 2007 later were deemed to retroactively qualify based on a 2006 court ruling.

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation began investigating the deal in January 2015, about a month after a Times-Tribune investigation revealed the perk was never authorized properly.

Mr. Durkin contacted police after his own review raised questions about the propriety of the benefits. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale also cited multiple issues in an audit released in June 2015.

In a press release, state police said investigators interviewed numerous people, including the double pension recipients, pension board members, city administrators, council members and attorneys involved in the awarding of the benefits. At some point, they learned the statute of limitations, which was five years, expired. The release did not identify the potential charges that were being investigated.

“Based on the termination of the investigation, no determination has been made on the criminality of any individual or entity associated with this matter,” the press release said.

Mr. Durkin said the pension board cooperated with the investigation. It had no stake in the outcome of the criminal probe.

“We did what we were supposed to do ... However it played out, that was up to somebody other than us to make a decision,” he said.

Attorney Christopher Powell, who represented several of the retirees, said he was confident no charges would be filed. He is continuing to represent one retiree in the civil matter filed by the board. He contends the incentive was handled properly.

Twelve retirees settled their cases with the board. Two hearing examiners heard the cases of the other retirees in July. They now are reviewing the evidence and will issue a ruling at a later date.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com, @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

A Roman Catholic priest from Mahwah, New Jersey, faces 40 felony counts of possessing and disseminating child pornography after investigators say he uploaded illicit files to the internet from a Wayne County apartment he referred to as his “day off place.”

The Rev. Kevin A. Gugliotta, 54, was taken into custody as a fugitive from justice Thursday night in Toms River, New Jersey, Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said Wednesday. He was being held in the Ocean County Jail pending extradition to Pennsylvania.

His arrest followed a three-month investigation that Ms. Edwards said involved law enforcement officials from multiple counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Father Gugliotta uploaded 20 files depicting children engaged in sexual activity to internet chat rooms between July 9 and Aug. 29 from his apartment at 108 Third St., Gouldsboro, in Lehigh Twp., according to the arrest affidavit prepared by Wayne County Detective Michael F. McMorrow.

Archbishop John J. Myers removed Father Gugliotta from ministry and ordered him to vacate his most recent assignment at Holy Spirit Church in Union, New Jersey, immediately upon learning of the allegations earlier this month, the Archdiocese of Newark said in a statement.

The investigation began in August, when a detective in Monroe County received information that an image depicting a preteen boy with an adult male was uploaded July 9 to a chat room from a specific Internet Protocol address.

Investigators later discovered numerous other pornographic files were uploaded from the IP address, which the Monroe County detective determined was registered to a Kevin Gugliotta at the Lehigh Twp. apartment.

On Sept. 29, detectives from Wayne and Monroe counties, along with township police, executed a search warrant at the residence, the affidavit said. No one was home and they found no electronic devices, but a neighbor told them the occupant was a priest from a New Jersey who stayed there a few times a week.

Later the same day, investigators identified the priest as Father Gugliotta and contacted him by phone at Holy Spirit. During the conversation, Father Gugliotta described the apartment as his “day off place” where he goes when he has time off.

In a subsequent interview with Father Gugliotta in the Holy Spirit rectory, Wayne County detectives explained how they received the child pornography complaint and conducted a search of his apartment.

The priest told the detectives he takes his laptop computer with him when he goes to the apartment, no one else has access to it and it is password-protected, the affidavit said. When detectives asked if they could examine the laptop, Father Gugliotta asked to speak to an attorney.

Ms. Edwards said Father Gugliotta is charged with 20 counts of possession of child pornography and 20 counts of dissemination of child pornography.

In its statement, the archdiocese said it maintained regular contact with authorities as the investigation developed.

“Father’s activities are alleged to have occurred in Pennsylvania, where he maintains a vacation home, using his personal laptop,” it said. “There are no allegations that he may have engaged in similar activities in New Jersey.”

Father Gugliotta has been a priest in the archdiocese since his ordination in 1996, spokesman James Goodness said.

In an email, Barbara Dorris, outreach director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, called on Archbishop Myers to reach out to anyone who may have information or suspicions about Father Gugliotta’s alleged crimes.

The Asbury Park Press reported Father Gugliotta is also a nationally ranked poker player who has won hundreds of thousands of dollars playing poker over the last several years.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com