REGIONAL BRIEFS
Police: Man struck with baseball bat
LEHMAN TWP. - A Monroe County man told police another man struck him in the knee with a baseball bat and stole $60 and a cellphone from him Tuesday night, state police at Swiftwater said.
The man was walking on Route 209, Milford Road, when a man wearing black sneakers, black sweatpants and a black sweatshirt attacked him and then fled into Milford Commons on foot, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 839-7701.
Taylor police get raise for events
TAYLOR - Taylor police will be pulling in more money for special events after borough council unanimously agreed to a $10 increase per event, Borough Manager Dan Zeleniak said.
Typically, special events center around Riverside School District sports. An officer at a Riverside basketball or football game now makes $65 for a four-hour period, rather than $55. For any special event that does not involve the school district, officers would receive $100 for four hours, Mr. Zeleniak said.
By a unanimous vote, council also made the 15-member Splash Park Committee an official extension of the borough. Council also passed a resolution that allows the borough to accept donations for the upcoming splash park.
New warrants in fatal hit-run sought
WILKES-BARRE - Investigators have filed for new search warrants in connection with the hit-and-run death of 5-year-old Kevin Miller, this time seeking to look at the Facebook activity of the "person of interest" and his girlfriend.
Authorities want to gain access to the online Facebook profiles of Thomas W. Letteer Jr., 22, of Plains Twp., and his girlfriend, Abigail Tarver.
Both took their Facebook profiles offline late last Friday night just after police seized Mr. Letteer's father's car, a 1999 red Pontiac Grand Am that authorities believe was involved in the crash.
Prosecutors say they've learned that Mr. Letteer was at a party in West Wyoming prior to the crash Dec. 21. According to prosecutors, information about the party was posted on Facebook and Mr. Letteer may have used Facebook to communicate with partygoers and Ms. Tarver after the crash.
Man charged with sexual assault
PITTSTON - A New York City man was caught sexually abusing a 3-year-old girl early Sunday morning in Pittston, according to charges filed Thursday.
Police say Michael Angel Roman, 57, locked himself in a bedroom with the little girl and sexually assaulted her in the middle of the night as people slept inside an apartment on South Main Street.
Upon being caught, authorities said Mr. Roman threatened to kill the tenant of the apartment when she asked about what happened. Investigators say the little girl was able to describe what Mr. Roman did to her, and Mr. Roman later tearfully confessed during an interview with police.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Mr. Roman was charged with indecent assault of a child under 13 years of age, simple assault, terroristic threats and possession of instruments of a crime. He remains in Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Attorney to run for magistrate judge
PITTSTON - Attorney Mark A. Singer announced he is running for magisterial district judge in the Pittston area.
He is touting his "extensive experience handling all types of cases from juvenile to homicide death-penalty cases as well as civil cases."
Since 2005, Mr. Singer has been an assistant public defender for Luzerne County and is certified to defend death penalty cases. He also served as a Luzerne County assistant district attorney from 1990 to 1995.