REGIONAL BRIEFS
State police plan DUI checkpoints
DUNMORE - State police at Dunmore will conduct DUI sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols May 24-27.
Police will patrol various roads throughout Lackawanna County in an effort to protect the public from intoxicated drivers and promote public safety.
Pike man convicted in assault case
MILFORD - A Pike County man was convicted on charges he fired multiple shots at an occupied, moving vehicle with a handgun in 2011.
Robert Lavanant, 52, was convicted on charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime Wednesday after a two-day trial. He was found not guilty of aggravated assault.
The charges stemmed from a Nov. 6, 2011, incident at Mr. Lavanant's Delaware Twp. home, where he fired five rounds at an 18-year-old woman driving on Spencer Road. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11.
Man fights after traffic stop
BLAKELY - A Scranton man was charged after he became belligerent during a traffic stop in Blakely.
Charles Bronson, 28, 520 Hickory St., Apt. 1, was pulled over by Blakely police on Business Route 6 for an expired inspection sticker on May 5 but officers smelled marijuana coming from the car. Mr. Bronson's passenger, Melissa Carson, had a small amount of marijuana on her clothes, so officers told him they would be impounding his silver 2002 Nissan Altima so they could obtain a search warrant. He tried to grab the keys back and get into the car, but officers put him in handcuffs. After the warrant on his car was served, police found a 15-gram package of synthetic marijuana.
Charges of obstructing the administration of law, disorderly conduct, two penalties relating to synthetic marijuana, driving without certification of inspection and driving with privileges suspended were filed Wednesday in Lackawanna County Court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12. Bail information was not available.
Teen cited for drinking at prom
MOOSIC - One teen was cited for underage drinking last weekend at the Old Forge School District prom.
A 17-year-old boy from Old Forge was cited around 8 p.m. Saturday for the purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverage. He was cited and released to his mother.
Watch group planning events
SCRANTON - The West Scranton Hyde Park Neighborhood Watch members will plan a series of upcoming events at their meeting Thursday night.
NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and Habitat for Humanity of Lackawanna County are looking for elderly, disabled and modest-income homeowners, as well as volunteers, to aid with house painting, yard work and minor maintenance repairs during Paint the Town, June 22-28. To apply for assistance or to volunteer, visit www.nwnepa.org or call Karissa Tugend at 558-2490.
The neighborhood watch will host its third annual Community Day on Saturday with a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as a plant sale, shredding event and used tire disposal at the Jackson Street Skate Park in West Scranton.
Selenski back in court
WILKES-BARRE - A defense attorney for double-homicide suspect Hugo Selenski urged a judge Thursday to sanction Luzerne County prosecutors for obtaining Mr. Selenski's medical records through subpoena last year.
Prosecutors maintain they did nothing wrong and the defense is again trying to stall by accusing the prosecution team of wrongdoing.