Man to admit to sex charges
TUNKHANNOCK TWP. - A 54-year-old Tunkhannock man charged with indecent assault and corruption of a minor waived his rights to a preliminary hearing Thursday and is expected to enter a plea of guilty in January, according to the man's lawyer.
James Louis Barber, 54, appeared in the courtroom of Magisterial District Judge John J. Hovan for a hearing. Mr. Barber's attorney Paul Ackourey conferred with District Attorney Jeff Mitchell for about 45 minutes to discuss details of a plea agreement.
According to court records, Mr. Barber invited the girl, who was under 13, into his bedroom on April 20 to lie down with him. She later told her mom that a "bad thing" happened and that Mr. Barber "did something he wasn't supposed to do."
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Luzerne looks for court advocates
WILKES-BARRE - The Pennsylvania Court-Appointed Special Advocate Association is looking for volunteers to be advocates for abused or neglected children in Luzerne County Court cases, officials said Thursday.
The Luzerne County program started in June after the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency provided $178,347 from a $2.15 million fund set up as part of Robert Mericle's plea agreement in the "kids for cash" case. The real estate developer paid $2 million to two corrupt county judges who placed juvenile offenders in detention centers built by his construction firm, and his plea agreement resulted in $2.15 million in funding for children's charities.
Man dies after July W-B shooting
WILKES-BARRE - The man shot multiple times on a Wilkes-Barre street in July died Wednesday at a medical facility in Montgomery County, authorities said Thursday.
An autopsy was conducted on Kenyatta Hughston, 22, in Montgomery County on Thursday, but the coroner there declined to release any information. Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said the case is now considered a homicide investigation. Mr. Hughston was shot twice in the head July 6 on Jay Street.
Hospital's new sign for new name
SCRANTON - While officially operating as part of the Geisinger Health System since February, Geisinger Community Medical Center reflected the change in the hospital's sign on Thursday. Crews put up a permanent sign on the hospital on Mulberry Street on Thursday, according to hospital officials. Geisinger Health System, based in Danville, received OKs from federal and state officials to acquire Community Medical Center at the beginning of the year. As part of the deal, Geisinger pledged to invest $158.6 million for capital improvements at the Scranton hospital over the next five years.
Guilty plea made in child porn case
SCRANTON - A Virginia man pleaded guilty Thursday to producing and attempting to produce child pornography with a Lackawanna County child, according to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith. Christopher Julich, 31, Falls Church, Va., will be sentenced to 21 years in prison with a lifetime on supervised release following his sentence if his plea is accepted by court. Mr. Julich was indicted by a federal grand jury in April for persuading a local 13-year-old to perform sexual acts via webcam from October to December 2011.