Autopsy rules death a homicide
SAYLORSBURG - The death of a Saylorsburg man whom state police said suffered a stab wound at the hands of his father on Saturday was ruled a homicide Monday.
An autopsy found that Thomas Howard Jr., 35, died of a stab wound to the abdomen, which state police said his father, Thomas Howard Sr., 62, 405 Tulip Lane, Saylorsburg, inflicted late Saturday.
Thomas Howard Sr. reported the stabbing to state police and was arrested by responding troopers, who found apparent blood drops on his clothes and hands.
As of Monday, Mr. Howard had only been charged with one count of aggravated assault, but the charges were later withdrawn by the district attorney's office. The death investigation is still open and active, police said.
He remained in the Monroe County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday though state police characterized the investigation as ongoing.
Nonresident wage tax enacted
JESSUP - Borough council approved an expanded wage tax at a meeting Monday.
The revised ordinance, which was supported with a unanimous vote, added a provision allowing the borough to collect a wage tax from nonresidents who do not pay the tax anywhere else.
The previous ordinance did not include a nonresident wage tax, solicitor Rick Fanucci said, adding that the tax will take effect in 2014.
Also at the meeting, the board changed the tax collector's stipend. In addition to 2 percent of the real estate taxes collected, the tax collector will receive 1 percent of the refuse fees collected. The changes must be approved by Feb. 15 because the office is up for re-election, Mr. Fanucci explained.
Man, 61, killed in head-on wreck
WEST WYOMING - A Dallas man died Monday morning after a head-on crash on West Eighth Street, authorities said.
The Luzerne County coroner's office identified the victim as Thomas Ohl, 61, of Dallas.
West Wyoming police said Mr. Ohl was driving a sport utility vehicle around 7:50 a.m. when he was struck head-on by a cargo van that crossed into his lane.
The driver of the van, Jack Ostrowski, 39, of Duryea, was transported to an area hospital, where he was treated and released, police said.
Police are trying to determine why the crash occurred. A state police accident reconstruction team was called to the scene to assist with the investigation.
Man sentenced on porn charges
WILKES-BARRE - A federal judge sentenced a Forty Fort man to 12 years in prison on child pornography charges, the U.S. attorney's office announced Monday.
Joshua Campbell, 29, previously pleaded guilty to persuading a 12-year-old girl to send sexually explicit photos to him in 2008 and 2009, authorities said.
A federal grand jury in Kansas indicted Mr. Campbell in June on child porn charges, but the case was later transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Scranton. He later pleaded guilty to a single count of attempting to produce child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik ordered Mr. Campbell to serve 12 years in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life.