A jackpot-winning Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 ticket sold Monday in Jermyn matched all five balls drawn and instantly became worth $800,000.

No one has come forward yet to claim the prize. Whoever it is beat some pretty daunting odds — 1 in 962,598 — said lottery spokeswoman Ewa Dwoarakowski.

This big win comes on the heels of Jose Mendoza’s $3 million windfall from a $30 scratch-off ticket sold last month in West Scranton.

The major wins highlight the amount of money spent on playing the lottery. People in Lackawanna County spent nearly $97.5 million on the lottery between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, according to the most recent county-by-county breakdown publicly available.

That means that $461.89 was spent on the lottery that fiscal year for every county resident, 18 years and up, ranking it the fifth-highest in the state. The median amount spent per person statewide during that time was $320.97.

Terri Ooms, executive director of The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, said she has not studied this but has been told anecdotally that Northeast Pennsylvania spends more on the lottery than the state average.

“One of the reasons is the senior demographic,” Ooms said.

That may be because playing the lottery is more associated with older, blue collar communities, Ooms said.

People 65 and older made up nearly 20 percent of Lackawanna County’s population in 2017, according to Census data.

The winning Cash 5 ticket was sold at Convenient Food Mart, 601 Washington Ave., according to the lottery. The store will receive a $5,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

Cash 5 prizes expire one year from the drawing date. The winner should sign the ticket, call the lottery at 1-800-692-7481 and file a claim at the nearest lottery office.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com,

570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

Playing the odds

The five counties that spent the most per person on the lottery in fiscal year 2016-17 are:

Blair: $65,314,441; per person: $526.50.

Cambria: $69,731,516; per person: $520.80.

Cameron: $2,331,246; per person: $503.02.

Schuylkill: $68,723,654; per person: $480.35.

Lackawanna: $97,476,773; per person: $461.89.

How to claim your winnings

The Cash 5 winner should sign the ticket, call the lottery at 1-800-692-7481 and file a claim at the nearest lottery office.

Clarks Summit

Shred fest: Rescheduled shred fest, Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m.-noon, Clarks Summit Elementary School, personal papers, all non-paper items must be removed, donations will be accepted.

Clifford

Church dinner: Clifford United Methodist Church chicken-n-biscuit or ham dinner, Wednesday, July 17, 4-6 p.m., Main Street, takeouts available, $9.95.

Dickson City

Blood drive: Blood drive sponsored by Eagle Hose Company and Valley Blood Council for the American Red Cross, Thursday, noon-5 p.m., Eagle Hose Company, 1 Eagle Lane.

Downvalley

Class reunion: Riverside class of 1974 45th reunion will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, 5 p.m., Arcaro & Genell, Main Street, Old Forge; anyone who did not get an invitation is asked to contact Bill Baldauff, 570-335-5266.

Ledgedale

Chicken barbecue: Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company chicken barbecue, Saturday, July 6, 1 p.m.-sold out, fire hall, Goose Pond Road, takeouts available.

Wyoming County

Club reunion: Blazin’ Saddles 4-H Riding Club reunion, Saturday, June 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Lazybrook Park (Green Pavilion), Tunkhannock; bring your family and dish to pass for lunch, plus old pictures and jackets; RSVP to Butch and Josie Sands, 570-836-1205, or on Facebook.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

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

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Raheem Jamar Selby and Michele Johnson, both of Scranton.

■ Thomas Cory Chesko and Linda Marie Martine, both of Archbald.

■ Robert C. Waznak and Barbara A. Snedeker, both of Scranton.

■ Mark Bednash, Mayfield, and Monique Mark, Carbondale.

■ Rosalino Rene Rodriguez-Reyes and Sulma Judith Hernandez-Perez, both of Scranton.

■ Amy Margaret Demshock and John M. Kernoschak, both of Roaring Brook Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Catherine A. Vannan, Carbondale, to Erica Orrick, Carbondale; two parcels at 26 Canaan St., Carbondale, for $52,000.

■ Michael and Lakshmi Mizin, Jermyn, to Keith and Katlyn Galinsky, Jermyn; a property at 187 Fallbrook St., Carbondale, for $43,000.

■ Clayton and Rebecca A. Jacobs, North Abington Twp., to John M. III and Victoria Jordan, Carbondale; a property at 103 Bonnie Road, North Abington Twp., for $190,000.

■ Gravel LLC, Clarks Summit, to Gravel Pond Townhouses Inc., South Abington Twp.; a property in South Abington Twp. for $30,000.

■ Burnside Holdings LLC, Scranton, to Culkins Coffee Shop LLC, Scranton; a property at 601 E. Market St., Scranton, for $60,000.

■ Robert A. and Deborah A. Archibald, Clarks Summit, to Brian and Jennifer Moran, Scranton; a property at 112 Leland Drive, South Abington Twp., for $205,000.

■ Richard H. and Mary Rose Spalletta to Joseph and Cynthia Patterson; a property at 611 State Route 690, Spring Brook Twp., for $145,000.

■ John and Diane Fontana and Ann Marie Steil, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, to Justin and Kristen Taffera; a property at 1313 Adams Ave., Dunmore, for $55,000.

■ James H. VanWert Jr., Scranton, to Joseph P. Incelli, Scranton; a property at 452 S. Keyser Ave., Scranton, for $125,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Maura Staback, Eynon, v. Randolph Staback, Eynon; married Aug. 28, 1999; Scott A. Herlands, attorney.

■ Penny Ford, Scranton, v. John H. Ford III, Newton, N.J.; married Oct. 19, 1996, in Hampton, N.J.; pro se.

■ Erica L. Shibley, Scott Twp., v. George J. Shibley, Scranton; married Sept. 2, 2017, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Bruce L. Coyer, attorney.

DIVORCE DECREES

■ Brianna Hudson v. Scott Hudson

■ Stephanie Kuchinski v. Vincent Kuchinski

■ Thomas Luddy v. Diana Luddy

■ Cheryl Smith v. Mark Smith

■ Kim Biancarelli v. Damian Biancarelli

■ Edward Kakareka v. Connie Kakareka

■ Nicole Stamm v. Daniel Stamm

■ Justin Lowe v. Caitlan Lowe

■ Godavariben Patel v. Maheshkumar Patel

■ Michelle Pichiarella v. Thomas Piachiarella

■ Laurie Strizalkowski v. Stanley Strizalkowski

■ Danielle King v. Ted King

LAWSUIT

■ Barbara J. Stevens, 126 George St., Throop, v. Linda Kay’s Ole Green Ridge Diner, 1809 Sanderson Ave., Scranton, seeking in excess of $50,000 and in excess of the prevailing arbitration limits, exclusive of pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest and costs on two counts, for injuries suffered April 28, 2018, in a fall on the defendant’s premises; Christopher A. Piazza, attorney.

ESTATES FILED

■ Martha Vender, also known as Martha J. Vender, 409 Minooka Ave., Moosic, letters testamentary to Robert Vender, 740 Zermatt Drive, Hummelstown.

■ Carol Bartholme, 1936 Newton-Ransom Blvd., Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Neil Bartholme, 1932 Newton-Ransom Blvd., Clarks Summit.

■ Edwin Utan, also known as attorney Edwin Utan, 1101 Quincy Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Alan Glassman, 8 W. Market St., Suite 1120, Wilkes-Barre.

■ Joseph T. Zadrusky, also known as Joseph T. Zadrusky Jr., 121 Masters St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Peoples Security Bank & Trust Co., 150 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, and William Baker, 305 Vincent Ave., Archbald.

■ Mildred Chorba, 822 Dudley St., Throop, letters testamentary to Michael E. Chorba Jr., 831 Dudley St., Throop.

■ Donald R. Sabatell Sr., 941 Meade St., Dunmore, letters of administration to Donald Sabatell Jr., 108 Willow St., Dunmore.

BENCH WARRANTS

Judge Thomas Munley has issued the following bench warrants for failure to appear on fines and costs:

■ Peter Lesavage, 805 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem; $6,459.

■ Ronald Jacquet, 5928 Haverford Ave., Philadelphia; $1,332.

■ Sabrina Helring, 118 E. Elm St., Dunmore; $6,182.58.

■ Michael Young, 1097 Carmalt St., Apt. 2, Dickson City; $11,180.96.

■ Christopher Pinko, 608 W. Locust St., Apt. 2, Scranton; $3,385.31.

■ Steve Gray, 200 S. Main St., Archbald; $389.

■ Luke Andrewlavage, 6 Oakwood Place, Scranton; $1,057.50.

■ Jamont Henry, 425 Depot St., first floor, Scranton; $7,674.

■ William Lunny, 300 Park Ave., Apt. 610, Wilkes-Barre; $988.24.

■ Sabrina Lozano, 311 Elm St., Apt. 3, Reading; $1,316.57.

■ Brian A. Loch, 240 N. Main Ave., Scranton; $1,255.

■ Michael Laboranti, 1213 Capouse Ave., Scranton; $6,681.

■ Catherine Kilanowski, 1191 Griffin Road, Roaring Brook Twp.; $4,261.50.

■ Cheryl Kasper, 613 Green Ridge St., Apt. 3, Scranton; $535.

■ John Hunt, 51 N. Fulton St., rear, Wilkes-Barre; $10,433.87.

■ Steven Allen Hunsinger Jr., 127 River St., Olyphant; $6,546.50.

■ Edward Daniel Hudak, 420 Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant; $3,006.45.

■ Trekwan Horton, 902 Sanderson Ave., Scranton; $1,486.

■ Yasin Holmes, 317 E. Elm St., Scranton; $5,569.69.

■ Courtney Hill, 1026 Poplar St., Scranton; $1,082.50.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

DANVILLE

Geisinger’s interim president and chief executive, Dr. Jaewon Ryu, ranked 19th on Modern Healthcare’s “50 Most Influential Clinical Executives” list.

The industry publication convened peers and an expert panel to select the nation’s most influential doctors, who include government, for-profit and nonprofit health organization executives.

The panel chose Ryu for his efforts in expanding community care programs, implementing changes to give health workers more time with patients and advancing the use of artificial intelligence to improve health care delivery.

In November, Ryu replaced outgoing President Dr. David T. Feinberg, who left for a job as head of Google Health.

— JON O’CONNELL

SCRANTON

A federal judge sentenced a city man to spend 17 months in prison for having illegal drugs and contraband inside Lackawanna County Prison.

Thomas Coss, 37, either had or tried to acquire suboxone and tobacco while an inmate at the prison between July 2015 and April 2016, according to federal prosecutors. On Monday, U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo sentenced Coss to 17 months in prison, to be served after a state prison term Coss is currently serving, followed by two years of supervised release. Coss was one of four people charged in relation to smuggling contraband into the county prison.

— CLAYTON OVER

June 19, 1919

Baby Welfare Station a success

The Baby Welfare Station, at 905 Robinson St., had a successful first year. The station, which was operated by the District Nurses Association, saw 327 babies for regular doctor’s visits, along with a health education class for mothers and older siblings of the babies.

The station also sold more than 49,000 quarts of milk to the babies. The station’s policy was that milk was sold to babies, not the families. Each baby had a record of how much milk they purchased.

Because of the success of the West Scranton station, the association was working on opening a second station at 426 S. Washington Ave. Mrs. D’Andelot Belin was leading the fundraising effort to fund the second station. So far, she had raised $800 and was obtaining furniture donations to furnish the rooms of the station.

Scranton Tech graduates 101

Technical High School held its graduation ceremony the evening of June 18 in the auditorium of Central High School, awarding 101 degrees.

Speaking at the ceremony were valedictorian William Adams and Dr. Elmer Burritt Bryan, president of Colgate University.

Adams told his fellow students in his remarks that “we have forged links of friendship strong enough to withstand the test of time. Let us go our separate ways, resolved to be true to ourselves, to our country and to our God.”

Following the ceremony, the graduating class was treated to a farewell dance at the Century Club.

Shopping list

Butter was 59 cents per pound; 12 pounds of potatoes for 39 cents; a large package of Quaker Oats was 25 cents; a pound of ginger snaps was 15 cents; a pound of loose-leaf tea was 45 cents; two large packages of spaghetti were 15 cents; and a bottle of ginger ale was 15 cents.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamroc­k.com or 570-348-9140.

PLAINS TWP.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center will host an open forum meeting for veterans, family members and the public at 5 p.m. Thursday at 1111 East End Blvd., Plains Twp.

Medical center Director Russell Lloyd will attend.

There will be a presentation on the MISSION Act, which expands the way veterans can access health care by visiting a non-VA provider but using VA coverage, as well as discussion of other matters related to the operation of the clinic.

— STAFF REPORT

SCRANTON

Hundreds of students graduated from Scranton and West Scranton high schools on Tuesday evening.

The schools are the last in the county and among the last in the region to graduate.

A full listing of graduates with photos from schools around the region will be featured in a special section included with The Times-Tribune on June 29.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

Eight sexually abused students blame a local public vocational-technical school and their home school districts for doing little or nothing to stop an auto-repair shop teacher from molesting them, according to lawsuits recently filed in Lackawanna County Court.

One time, they allege, an aide to Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County shop teacher Richard Humphrey defended him by calling the students liars and hoping “they all get what they have coming to them.”

One suit accuses a top CTC official of bullying and retaliating against students who reported the abuse.

The students say Humphrey, who went to jail after pleading guilty to multiple criminal counts, groped or caressed their genitals, rubbed their backs and shoulders, acted “in a creepy and weird fashion” and spoke to them in vulgar and sexually suggestive language when he taught them during the 2016-17 school year, according to the lawsuits.

The suits say Humphrey “severely and permanently” damaged the students, who received no support from the CTC after Humphrey’s abuse became public. They each seek compensatory damages with some specifically asking for at least $50,000 for each of multiple counts.

All eight suits name CTC as a defendant. Three also name the Lakeland School District, two, the Valley View School District, and one each, the Scranton and Mid Valley school districts. One names only CTC. Lakeland, Scranton, Valley View and Mid Valley are among districts that send students to CTC. The suits do not name Humphrey as a defendant.

One other student alleging similar abuse filed an intent to sue CTC and Scranton School District, but has not filed a detailed claim. The suits refer to the students by initials or by their parents’ initials. The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual abuse.

The suits say CTC and the districts, which are required to report abuse, should have known about the abuse and trained their staffs better about reporting requirements and handling abused students. The suits mostly blame CTC officials, but say discovery of evidence as the suits move forward may implicate districts further.

Humphrey, 63, a West Wyoming resident who resigned in June 2017, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault and one count of corruption of minors in January 2018. In July, Judge Vito Geroulo ordered him to serve 11 to 33 months in prison and register for life as a sex offender. He is no longer in prison.

At his sentencing, Humphrey apologized for hurting the students.

The suits say Humphrey sometimes let students arrive early or stay late to work on projects so he could “continue to carry out his sick, twisted and perverted proclivities.”

Humphrey reminded students “he controlled their grades and held their careers in his hands and retained all contacts with their employers.” Humphrey’s behavior was “an open secret” among technology center students, staff and administrators and sometimes occurred in front of teacher aides, the lawsuits say.

One aide, Louis Morgantini, told students he would “keep an eye on” Humphrey and, if necessary, report his misbehavior to authorities. However, two suits say he also told a student who reported Humphrey’s shoulder-rubbing to ignore it because “you know the way he is.”

Efforts to reach Morgantini were unsuccessful.

At some point, several suits say, Morgantini reported Humphrey’s behavior to either officials at CTC and/or the school districts, but nothing happened until a May 13, 2017, report to an abuse hotline from an unnamed source, the suits say. Two days later, CTC suspended Humphrey with pay.

About two weeks after that, Scranton police charged Humphrey. The charges prompted a teacher’s aide, Robert Hudak, to accuse the students “of being liars and attempting to ruin Richard Humphrey’s reputation and life” and hope “they all get what they have coming to them,” according to the suits.

“I never said any such thing,” Hudak told the newspaper Tuesday.

Hudak, who said he retired right around the time the matter became public, said he never saw Humphrey acting inappropriately. He also said he doesn’t think the students are liars, because of Humphrey’s guilty plea.

Two suits allege George Pelepko-Filak, CTC’s assistant director, bullied and retaliated against students after Humphrey’s arrest became public.

One suit says Pelepko-Filak screamed at a student to embarrass him in front of teachers and students and threatened to expel him because he put his feet up on a desk. The administrator also refused to approve the student’s participation in a prestigious co-op during the 2017-18 school year, threatened to kick him out of the same program during the 2018-19 school year, refused lunch privileges to him and other students who reported the abuse and threatened to block the student from graduation ceremonies.

He told the student he would mail his diploma.

“Maybe it will get there, maybe it won’t,” Pelepko-Filak said, according to the suit.

Efforts to reach Pelepko-Filak and lawyers representing CTC and Valley View school districts were unsuccessful.

William McPartland, the lawyer representing Lakeland and Mid Valley school districts, declined to comment. John Audi, Scranton’s solicitor, also declined comment.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter

A Scranton man is in Lackawanna County Prison after city police detectives said he broke an 8-month-old boy’s leg.

Kwame Tilghman, 24, 643 Adams Ave., Unit 505, is charged with aggravated assault of a person less than 6 years old, simple assault and related counts.

City police responded to Moses Taylor Hospital on Monday for the report of an 8-month-old boy with a broken leg. Staff there told police the injury could have occurred from something falling on the boy’s leg or someone twisting it.

Detectives talked to the boy’s mother, Lordae Buckley. She told police she didn’t know how the child broke his leg, but believed the boy could have caught his leg in his crib, under the couch or in a TV stand. Buckley told police she believed the infant suffered the injury Friday.

Detectives later talked to Tilghman, who first told police he didn’t know how the injury could have occurred. Later, he said he broke the boy’s leg, according to court documents. Tilghman told detectives he woke up Friday and was going to be late for work. As he changed the child’s diaper, he got angry, twisted the boy’s leg and heard it crack, he told police.

Magisterial District Judge Alyce Hailstone Farrell arraigned Tilghman on Tuesday and set his bail at $50,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5363;

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

SCRANTON

City police arrested a city woman accused of stabbing a man in the stomach last week.

Officers arrested Camille Morgan, 38, 920 Myrtle St., third floor, about 2 p.m. Tuesday at a pavilion just off Olive Street on the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, city police Lt. Marty Crofton said.

Police had been looking for Morgan since Friday. The night before, Morgan and Andre Paden argued at their apartment, police said.

Paden went to a hospital with a stab wound and told police Morgan did it, according to court documents.

Bail and preliminary hearing information was not immediately available.

— CLAYTON OVER

SCRANTON — Nicodemo and Ruth Anna Baggetta spent an inordinate amount of time and exchanged tens of thousands of text messages with a former Lakeland High School student they are charged with sexually abusing, prosecutors and their attorney agree.

Whether they were motivated by deviant sexual desire or a sincere effort to help a troubled youth will be up to a Lackawanna County jury to decide.

The starkly different portraits of the husband and wife teachers emerged Tuesday during the second day of their trial on charges of institutional sexual assault and other offenses. The charges stem from a two-year relationship police say they had with a student starting when she was 16.

The woman, now 19, testified Monday the casual friendship that developed while Ruth Baggetta was band director at Lakeland High School turned sexual in 2016, when Nicodemo Baggetta groped and kissed her. The relationship, which the teen said had the blessing of Ruth Baggetta, eventually led to oral and anal sex.

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

Testifying in their own defense Tuesday, the Baggettas, of Greenfield Twp., acknowledged they were exceptionally close with the girl but flatly denied any sexual activity occurred.

Ruth Baggetta, 37, who remains on unpaid administrative leave at Lakeland High School, took the stand first. She described how she and her husband treated the girl “almost like an adopted daughter.” They exchanged text messages almost daily and she often spent time at their home, with her parents’ consent, because she felt neglected at her own home, she said.

Questioned by her attorney, Paul Walker, she briefly choked up as she spoke of how she was concerned that the girl, who had a history of depression and cutting herself, was suicidal. She repeatedly worked to build her self-esteem.

“I’d tell her she was a wonderful person, beautiful and smart,” she said. “I didn’t want anything to happen to her.”

Nicodemo Baggetta, 30, told a similar story. The former Fell Charter School special education teacher said he began mentoring the teen in 2016 when she unexpectedly “spilled her guts” to him regarding family problems while they were both volunteering for a play at Lakeland High School.

“She was saying very dark things about herself,” he said, which led him to contact her parents and urge her to seek counseling.

Assistant District Attorney Sara Varela and her co-prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Jack Price, had a different take on the relationship. Before resting their case Tuesday afternoon, they presented several text messages Nicodemo Baggetta exchanged in July 2018 with his friend Bryan Brophy, the current band director at Lakeland High School.

In one exchange, the men each criticize the state law that sets the age for informed consent in a sexual relationship at 16.

“Even if I did do things with her, which we all know I didn’t, what ... has a right to make a law saying it’s wrong,” Nicodemo Baggetta said in the text.

“You’re right,” Brophy replied. “The age of consent laws are ridiculous ... We treat biological adults like children until an arbitrary number.”

Nicodemo Baggetta will return to the stand today at 9 a.m. to be cross-examined by prosecutors. The defense is expected to conclude its case later in the day. After closing arguments, President Judge Michael Barrasse will instruct the jury of seven women and five men on the law. They will then being deliberations.

In addition to institutional sexual assault, the Baggettas are each charged with endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Ruth Baggetta faces an additional count of failure to report suspected child abuse.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — The Scranton School District’s chief recovery officer has an additional six weeks to submit the recovery plan to the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education originally said last week that Candis Finan, Ed.D., had submitted the plan on the June 12 due date, but a miscommunication led to the incorrect information being released, department spokesman Eric Levis said.

Finan now has until July 26 to submit the comprehensive plan, which will address how the struggling district can become solvent in the next five years. The plan will call for increasing taxes, evaluating school capacities for possible building closures and improving graduation rates. The school board still must approve the plan. Failure to do so, or failure to follow the plan, could result in state receivership.

This is the second extension the state granted Finan, whom the state pays $144,000 a year to serve as chief recovery officer. The plan was originally due in early May.

“I appreciate the time and effort that have already been spent, as well as the further time and effort required to develop a financial recovery plan that will help to ensure the financial and academic stability of the Scranton School District,” Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera wrote in a letter to Finan, which the department provided to The Times-Tribune.

In a letter Finan sent to Rivera, also provided by the department, she wrote that she has made “significant progress” in analyzing the district’s finances and developing the framework for the plan.

“However, I would like to take the remainder of June in order to make final calculations, work with experts in your department to refine certain technical recommendations and have the benefit of more information about the ongoing state budget process,” she wrote. “The result of these steps will be a much stronger plan.”

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

HANOVER TWP. — A drunken man who was found signing naked outside Lee Park Towers is facing disorderly conduct charges, according to police.

Officers contacted Daniel J. Drury, 54, around 1:15 a.m. Wednesday after getting the report of a naked man singing outside. Police say Drury, who was intoxicated, reported being locked out of the building.

Drury then entered the building without incident, but police were later re-dispatched to the apartment building because of an activated fire alarm. Police say Drury reported he set off the smoke alarm while cooking and no fire was reported.

Officers issued Drury a citation for disorderly conduct.

Drury made the news nearly a decade ago when he was charged with raping an 11-year-old girl. Drury’s defense maintained the girl fabricated the story as part of a bitter divorce and custody battle, and a jury acquitted him of the charges in March 2011.

WILKES-BARRE — A former city police K-9 officer has sued the city, the police union and a current K-9 officer in an effort to have the police dog he was paired with in 2016 retired and returned to his care.

Attorney Kimberly Borland filed a civil complaint in Luzerne County Court earlier this month on behalf of Wilkes-Barre Patrolman Kevin Novackowski alleging the city violated an arbitration agreement by failing to return K-9 Skoty to his custody.

Novackowski also alleges the Wilkes-Barre City Police Benevolent Association breached its duty by failing to honor his request to file a grievance over the city’s refusal to return the dog to him.

According to the complaint, the union filed a grievance in 2017 claiming that Patrolman Dan Roper, who also is named as a defendant in the civil suit, should be designated as Skoty’s handler and custodian, not Novackowski.

The union and the city reached an agreement to resolve the grievance on Jan. 25, 2018. It stipulated an attempt would be made to retrain Skoty to serve with Roper; that if Skoty could not be retrained, the dog would be retired; and that retraining would begin no more than 60 days from the date of the agreement.

The complaint alleges Skoty’s retraining did not begin within 60 days, so the dog should be retired.

The complaint also alleges that “proper and adequate training of Skoty has never been successfully accomplished following Jan. 25, 2018,” and that Skoty “is not regularly nor routinely performing services for the city.”

Novackowski’s complaint also cites a police department general order which states that “there is a strong bond between K-9 dog and its handler. Therefore if it becomes necessary to retire the dog for any reason, the K-9 dog shall be relinquished to the K-9 handler.”

Following the expiration of the 60-day period to begin retraining Skoty, Novackowski demanded the dog be returned to him, but the city refused, the complaint states.

And when Novackowski demanded the union grieve the city’s refusal to comply with the terms of the arbitration agreement, the association refused to file a grievance, which constitutes a breach of the union’s duty to provide fair representation to Novackowski, according to the complaint.

Novackowski contends the union acted in bad faith because of his disagreement with and opposition to the union management’s positions and policies.

Novackowski is seeking delivery and possession of K-9 Skoty, payment of all costs incurred and any other relief the court deems appropriate.
City Attorney Tim Henry said the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Union president Sgt. Phil Myers did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Myers told The Citizens’ Voice in May 2018 that the union had filed a grievance with the city alleging that then police chief Marcella Lendacky “made a ‘miscalculation’ of points resulting in the wrong officer … being appointed as a K-9 handler” for Skoty in 2016.

Lendacky on Wednesday said she made a “minor miscalculation that was said by counsel to be irrelevant.

“However,” she said, “an error of another police administrator submitting two conflicting score sheets was unable to be defended.”

Lendacky said she’s making the statement because she’s “tired of being errantly accused.” She declined to name the administrator whom she said submitted conflicting score sheets.

Police Chief Joseph Coffay, who was commander of investigations at the time, said he had nothing to do with it.

Detective Ron Foy, who was commander of patrol at the time, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
 

SCRANTON — A man who led city police on a high-speed chase Friday faces felony charges and other counts after tossing drugs from a moving vehicle and endangering detectives and other drivers.

City police detectives John Munley and Corey Condrad were finishing a traffic stop about 8:20 p.m. when they observed a white Dodge Charger driven by Vertis Henry Dillon III, 39, address unknown, traveling west on Moosic Street without its headlights on. The detectives followed Dillon, who turned on to Harrison Avenue and accelerated when they activated their lights and siren, according to a criminal complaint.

As Dillon crossed the Harrison Avenue Bridge he began throwing plastic bags containing suspected crack cocaine from the car. As the chase continued, Dillon blew through red lights without breaking or stopping, ran multiple vehicles off the road and nearly collided with two different cars, police said.

Where Harrison Avenue meets Ridge Avenue, Dillon allowed his car to roll backwards and strike the front of the detectives’ vehicle. Dillon fled on foot. Police discovered a cellphone and four bags containing suspected crack cocaine in his car and recovered six additional bags thrown from the car during the chase, police said.

Dillon was later apprehended and charged with a felony drug count, two felony counts of aggravated assault for allowing his car to slam into the police vehicle, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault for the same and two felony counts of fleeing police. He also faces charges of recklessly endangering another person, tampering with evidence, reckless driving and careless driving.

Dillon remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 27.

Contact the writer:
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9141;
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SCRANTON ­— A jury found husband and wife teachers charged with sexually abusing a former student guilty on all charges.

Nicodemo and Ruth Anna Baggetta were found guilty of institutional sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, corruption of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Ruth Baggetta faced an additional charge of failure to report suspected child abuse.

Prosecutors say Nicodemo Baggetta had a two-year sexual relationship with a former Lakeland High School student starting when she was 16. They also allege Ruth Baggetta knew about it and rather than stop it, encouraged it.

The three-day trial of the Greenfield Twp. couple heavily focused on a battle of credibility between them and the victim.

The woman, now 19, testified Monday that a casual friendship with the couple turned sexual in the spring of 2016. It eventually led to oral and anal sex with Nicodemo Baggetta. The woman also alleged she and Ruth Baggetta once performed oral sex on Nicodemo to persuade him to go to a function with Ruth’s family.

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

The jury of seven women and five men began deliberating around 12:15 p.m. At 1 p.m. they came back and asked President Judge Michael Barrasse to re-read the definition all the charges.

Check back for updates.

Ken Bond’s latest middle finger to city officials and taxpayers will get a formal response this morning from the Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits:

Right back at ya, pal.

As I reported on Sunday, Scranton’s most notorious slumlord is advertising a rental property at 1416 Vine St. Like all of Bond’s income properties, it is not registered and can’t legally be rented.

Unlike some of his other properties, no one is living there. Yet.

I called city officials Tuesday and asked what could be done to prevent Bond from victimizing new tenants who don’t know what a scoundrel he is. A few hours later, LIPs Director Pat Hinton called back with good news.

“We’re going to close it,” Hinton said. The place will be posted with notices, and Bond will be barred from renting 1416 Vine until he registers it, submits to an inspection and pays the combined $2,260 in delinquent garbage fees and city taxes on the property.

If Bond removes the notices and rents the property anyway, the city can shut off the utilities and take further legal action, Hinton said. Unless Bond pays up, he won’t be pulling any profits out of 1416 Vine.

However small, the development is a victory for taxpayers and landlords who play by the rules and pay their fair share. While its position will likely be subordinate to claims by the IRS and Bond’s creditors, the city is serious about using him as a test case for the rental escrow provision in the rental registration ordinance, Councilman Wayne Evans said.

“The laws are on the books for a reason, not to be ignored,” he said.

Bond has been ignoring the law for years, raking in a fortune while blowing off $276,700 in fees and taxes owed to the city, county and school district.

“I’m convinced that was his business model from the start,” council President Pat Rogan said. “Buy these properties, pull as much money out of them as possible with mortgages and rent, and put nothing into them while ignoring the taxes.”

Business models don’t get much more cynical than that, but Bond makes it pay. He’s still in business, making bank at taxpayer expense.

That cost is not limited to dollars. Bond properties blight the neighborhoods they occupy. Responsible homeowners who faithfully pay their taxes and fees and work hard to maintain their properties don’t deserve to live in the shadows of monstrosities like 1620-1622 Pine St.

Heavily damaged by fire in March 2017, the blackened, boarded-up eyesore still looms over the 600 block of Wheeler Avenue. On May 17, Lackawanna County Judge Margaret Bisignani-Moyle cleared the way for its demolition.

Bond had 30 days to appeal, which expire next Friday. So far, he hasn’t appealed, Hinton told me Tuesday. He said his department is watching the calendar and will seek demolition bids as soon as the appeal period ends.

It appears 1620-1622 Pine will finally be put out of its neighbors’ misery and Ken Bond won’t victimize any new tenants at 1416 Vine.

Scranton suddenly got a little smaller for its most notorious slumlord. His business model is about to reap the returns he deserves.

CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, pays his taxes and fees. Contact the writer: kellysworld@timessha­mrock.com, @cjkink on Twitter. Read his award-winning blog at timestribuneblogs.co­m/kelly.

President Judge Michael Bar­rasse sentenced the following defendants recently in Lacka­wanna County Court:

Mark Dutter, 37, 1 E. Green St., Nanticoke, to one to two years in state prison, followed by one year of probation, for possession of a controlled substance, institutional vandalism and resisting arrest.

Michael Walker, 40, 1709 Prospect Ave., Scranton, to 21 to 48 months in state prison for criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance.

Jentry Lozensky, 27, 2070 Becks Crossing Road, Madison Twp., to six to 12 months in state prison and $210 in restitution for forgery.

Paul Bialczak II, 41, 504 Penn Ave., Scranton, to 149 days of time served to one year in county prison, followed by 15 months’ probation, for simple assault and harassment.

Judge Vito Geruolo sentenced:

Brian Demuth, 35, 125 Marion St., Moscow, to one year of probation for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Andy Jarbola sentenced:

Ian Clayton, 43, 403 N. Irving Ave., Scranton, to six to 12 months in county prison for possession of a controlled substance.

Brittany Cunningham, 30, 2141 N. Main Ave., Scranton, to three years of court supervision, followed by one year of probation, and a $1,500 fine for disorderly conduct and DUI — tier three, second offense.

Lorraine Pritchett, 51, 1255 Loomis Ave., Taylor, to six months of unsupervised probation for disorderly conduct.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced:

Allan Bucksbee, 29, 107 West Ave., Meshoppen, to six months’ probation and a $300 fine for DUI — tier one, first offense.

Emily McDermott, 23, 209 Rear Lackawanna Ave., Apt. 2N, Olyphant, to two years of probation for evidence tampering.

Donavan Ramos-Perez, 19, 534 Palm St., Scranton, to 79 days’ time served to two years in county prison for recklessly endangering another person.

Sondra Seidita, 23, 1746 Bundy St., Scranton, to 11½ to 23½ months in county prison followed by two years’ probation for involuntary manslaughter.

Eugene Burdett, 56, 1801 Bloom Ave., Scranton, to 60 days of suspended probation for disorderly conduct.

Harry Cruz Jr., 31, 120 N. Valley Ave., Olyphant, to six months’ probation for disorderly conduct.

Kyle Baker, 31, 610 S. Washington Ave., Scranton, to one year of probation for simple assault.

SCRANTON — U.S. Attorney David Freed refused to discuss a federal investigation of Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright during a meeting Wednesday with The Times-Tribune.

Freed, the chief federal prosecutor for the 33-county middle district of Pennsylvania, also would not discuss whether federal investigators are probing the Scranton School District, Lackawanna County or other local governments.

He cited U.S. Department of Justice policy that forbids discussing ongoing investigations. He noted the FBI, not his office, confirmed the Jan. 9 raid of Mayor Bill Courtright’s home and City Hall.

“I’m not going to speak about that case specifically,” Freed said during a meeting he called with the newspaper’s editorial board. “But, I think ... if you look at the history of corruption investigations, whether it’s at the federal or state level, you’re always trying to broaden the scope of the investigation ... to make sure that we’re encompassing as much of the conduct as we possibly can.”

The mayor repeatedly declined to talk about the investigation. His lawyer issued a statement shortly after the raid denying Courtright did anything wrong.

Freed visited the newspaper to explain his office’s work since he took over in November 2017.

The U.S. attorney said he’s sensitive to potentially negative effects a corruption investigation may have on a government facing scrutiny, but declined to say if his office is close to charging anyone.

“You can never put a timetable on any investigation,” he said.

He said he is unsure if he would issue a statement clearing the mayor if he decides against charging him because “investigations are almost never over.”

“Even if something wouldn’t result in a charge, it doesn’t mean that more information might not come down the road later,” he said. “In something high profile, if it were truly over, I might see a way that that could be appropriate. But, that would have to be — and I’m just completely speculating now — a total exoneration where evidence was developed that showed that a person who’d been looked at was completely exonerated.”

Freed acknowledged his office confers with state Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office “on all sorts of criminal cases,” but wouldn’t say if they are working with the state attorney general’s investigation of the Scranton School District or Lackawanna County. If Shapiro thought a federal look was warranted, he would ask, Freed said.

Shapiro’s agents charged seven former and current Lackawanna County Prison guards, a former prison counselor and two former Scranton School District employees. A jury acquitted one guard, two pleaded no contest and received probationary sentences and four still await trial as does the counselor. Former district business manager Gregg Sunday pleaded guilty to using taxpayers money to get work done on his cars and received a three-year probationary sentence. Former school district fleet manager Daniel Sansky was charged with getting paid for working on the vehicles of at least a dozen district employees.

Freed said corruption prosecution remains a priority that U.S. Attorney General William Barr asked him about when they met a few months ago in Washington, D.C., to review his office’s work.

“He said to me, ‘What about public corruption? ... It is Pennsylvania, after all,’” Freed said. “He’s focused on that. We have very experienced people working on that here. Clearly, the FBI has the experience, especially here to do those cases. They are hard.”

The Supreme Court’s unanimous June 2016 ruling that overturned of the federal corruption convictions of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell only made corruption prosecution harder, Freed said. The court ruled prosecutors relied on an overly broad definition of behavior that could lead to criminal charges.

“It doesn’t mean that they’re impossible,” Freed said. “it doesn’t mean we’re going to stop trying. It’s a focus of the office

On another issue, Freed said he thinks opioid abuse remains an acute problem, but the number of deaths has leveled off. That’s because of prosecutions, greater scrutiny of prescribing doctors, wider availability of the overdoes antidote naloxone and greater availability of other drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines, he said.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.