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Skerda extends jail time for Peer

“(You) sacrificed their lives for your high,” said President Judge Maureen Skerda.

Karen M. Peer, of Sugar Grove, was initially sentenced last Friday on a count of institutional vandalism.

But after court she tested positive for methamphetamine which resulted in her sentence being vacated and her being incarcerated.

She was back before Judge Skerda on Thursday to be sentenced again.

Her attorney, David Bauer, raised the possibility of a Berks County residential program for his client but Skerda said that the drug and alcohol evaluation in hand doesn’t call for inpatient treatment.

District Attorney Rob Greene noted he commented last Friday that the court should give Peer some rope and see what happens.

Greene said he didn’t realize the “rope would be so short,” alluding to her intoxicated appearance in court.

Peer told the court she last used the Monday before court and “obviously have a problem bigger than I can control.” She lamented that she has lost her kids as a result of this.

“Using methamphetamine as a parent dulls your ability to think,” Skerda said. “(You) sacrificed their (her kids) lives for your high.”

She added that Peer can “cry all you want” but noted that her kids found out about her going to jail after the fact and had the “audacity” to appear intoxicated in her courtroom.

Peer continued to address the court, discussing her children and apologizing for her last appearance in court.

Skerda interrupted her and said “That’s called rock bottom.”

“All of this has created havoc… in your life.”

She then sentenced Peer to four months to two years less one day of restrictive probation including credit for 35 days time served, $750 in fines and fees, $1,031 in restitution for which she is jointly and severally liable for with Casey Penhollow, a drug and alcohol evaluation and compliance with recommendations, work release eligibility, participation in the COG group and 100 hours of community service.

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