A Wilkes-Barre man who stole autographed memorabilia from a former bar and restaurant in Scranton while posing as a buyer will enter a rehabilitative program designed to target his drug addiction, Lackawanna County Judge Vito P. Geroulo ruled Monday.
Jeffrey Schultz, 40, address unknown, will spend two years in state intermediate punishment, which includes seven months in state prison, followed by two years of special probation for charges including burglary, theft of services and theft by deception.
According to the state Department of Corrections, the intermediate punishment program is designed for offenders convicted of drug-related offenses, meaning a crime motivated by the consumption or addiction of alcohol and other drugs.
After time served in prison, there is time spent in a community-based therapeutic setting, then time in outpatient treatment.
Mr. Schultz's public defender, Joseph Kalinowski, said Mr. Schultz has been struggling with substance abuse, moving from alcohol to marijuana and cocaine.
Speaking to Judge Geroulo via a video uplink from state prison, Mr. Schultz said he has been clean for the past eight months. Judge Geruolo said he is glad Mr. Schultz agreed to the program, adding that it is a "tough" program but provides a high chance for rehabilitation.
In May, Mr. Schultz was charged with the theft of 11 jerseys and various sports memorabilia from the former Whistles Pub & Eatery.
Police later recovered the stolen items from a store in the Mall at Steamtown.
Mr. Schultz pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, deceptive business practices, receiving stolen property and other charges in October.
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