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Assault on jail staff nets man state prison sentence

Assaulting two jail corrections officers has landed a Spartansburg man in state prison.

Charles R. Earls, III, 23, Spartansburg, Pa., was sentenced by Judge Gregory Hammond. His attorney, Alan Conn, recognized that his client has a “very large number of misconducts” in the county jail and suggested that mental health issues and periods of isolation in the jail may have played a role.

He said his client is looking to a state sentence.

“(I’m) definitely glad he’s looking forward to a state sentence,” District Attorney Rob Greene said. He explained that Earls lured corrections officers into his cell by flooding the space and proceeded to assault both, punishing them.

Earls said he was “sorry for my actions” and apologized to the officers. “(I) hurt them and they should not have had to defend themselves.”

He said he was deeply apologetic and asked for a state sentence.

Hammond then sentenced Earls to 21 to 42 months in state prison along with $625 in fines and fees, to undergo drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and comply with recommendations, submission of a DNA sample and a no contact order with the victims outside of the county jail on a count of aggravated assault as well as six to 12 months incarceration on a count of resisting arrest.

Earls also faces charges from an October 2020 stabbing that have yet to be resolved.

That incident that occurred at 175 Dey Ln. on Oct. 12. Troopers observed the victim being treated by EMTs on the porch of the Dey Lane residence and observed “a large pool of blood on the porch” under the victim. They said that EMTs were “holding a towel” on the victim’s abdomen, in addition to a towel or bandage on the victim’s wrist.

The victim said he continued to ask Earls to leave and “Earls stepped up on him.” He then pushed Earls in what he described as an attempt “to get him to leave.”

The victim then, according to police, saw a curved knife in Earls’ hand.

The affidavit states that Earls then “lunged forward” and stabbed the victim in the wrist, grazed his chest “and then stabbed him in the abdomen.”

Other individuals sentenced Friday include the following:

¯ Christopher M. Aultz, 42, Clarendon, to six months restrictive probation including 72 hours incarceration, work release eligibility, a 12 month license suspension, submission of a DNA sample, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs, 100 hours of community service and $1,800 in fines and fees on a count of DUI as well as $245 and a 12 month license suspension on a count of driving while license suspended or revoked.

¯ Michael J. Brncik, 51, Garland, to 48 to 96 months incarceration with credit for time served, submission of a DNA sample, $500 in fines and fees, a no contact/no trespass order and approximately $5,360 in restitution on a count of theft and 12 to 24 months incarceration on a second count of theft. Hammond said Brncik is a repeat felon and has 14 prior theft convictions starting when he was 16.

¯ Michael J. Cummings, 48, Clarendon, to six months restrictive probation including 48 hours incarceration with credit for one day time served, work release eligibility, a 12 month license suspension, $1,050 in fines and fees, drug and alcohol treatment, 15 hours of community service and participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs on a count of DUI as well as $70 on a count of disregard traffic lane.

¯ John M. Duncan, 49, Endeavor, Pa., to 108 days to two years less one day incarceration with credit for 108 days time served making him eligible for immediate parole, $625 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample, 30 hours of community service, a no contact/no trespass order and to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations on a count of criminal trespass — enter structure and 90 days probation on a count of criminal mischief — tamper with property. At a second docket, Duncan was sentenced to two years probation, $125 in fines and fees, 30 hours of community service and a no contact/no trespass order on a count of theft by unlawful taking.

¯ David L. Eichenlaub, 44, Ambridge, Pa., to six months restrictive probation including 30 days incarceration and 60 days house arrest, work release eligibility, $1,550 in fines and fees, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs, to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations, 15 hours of community service and a 12 month license suspension on a count of DUI as well as 15 to 30 days incarceration and $100 in fines and fees on a count of possession of marijuana and $70 for driving without a license.

¯ Brandon J. Fox, 29, Tidioute, to six months to two years less one day incarceration with credit for 17 days time served, submission of a DNA sample, work release and early reentry eligibility, one year probation, 50 hours of community service and $1,225 in fines and fees on a count of possession with intent to deliver.

¯ Brian D. Fox, 45, Clarendon, to 14 months to seven years incarceration, to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations, an 18 month license suspension, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs, submission of a DNA sample and $3,425 in fines and fees on a count of DUI as well as 15-30 days incarceration on a count of possession of marijuana and $70 on a count of no headlights.

¯ Matthew T. Fox, 25, Irvine, to six months restrictive probation including 48 hours incarceration with credit for two days time served, $1,050 in fines and fees, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs, a 12 month license suspension and community service on a count of DUI as well as $70 on a count of careless driving.

¯ Tracy A. Grant, 54, Warren, to one year restrictive probation including six months house arrest, $375 in fines and fees, 20 hours of community service and to undergo drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and comply with recommendations on a count of false identification to law enforcement as well as 90 days probation on a count of public drunkenness.

¯ Jeffrey S. Gray, 62, Warren, to five years restrictive probation including 30 days incarceration and 60 days house arrest, $2,875 in fines and fees, work release eligibility, an 18 month license suspension, drug and alcohol treatment, 60 hours of community service, submission of a DNA sample and participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs on a count of DUI as well as $70 on a count of signal improper.

¯ Nadean L. Jones, 31, Youngsville, to one year less two days to two years less one day incarceration with credit for 163 days time served, work release and early reentry eligibility, to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations, one year probation and 50 hours of community service on a count of possession with intent to deliver. At a second docket Jones was sentenced to two years probation, $125 in fines and fees, restitution to the Warren County Fair totaling $597.86, to not trespass on fair property and complete 20 hours of community service on a count of forgery and at a third docket to one year probation and $225 in fines and fees on a count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

¯ Valerie A. Kiser, 30, Warren, to 10 days to one year incarceration with credit for one day time served, $375 in fines and fees, 20 hours of community service, parenting classes and to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations on a count of disorderly conduct as well as $300 each on two counts of harassment.

¯ Ronald G. Nichols, 40, Centerville, Pa, to six months restrictive probation including 90 days made up of inpatient treatment and house arrest, drug and alcohol treatment, $1,050 in fines and fees, a 12 month license suspension, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs and 15 hours of community service on a DUI charge as well as 60 days incarceration, $295 in fines and fees and a 12 month license suspension on a count of driving on a suspended license DUI related and $55 on a seat belt violation.

¯ Michael W. Ott, 22, Sugar Grove, to 21 to 42 months incarceration with credit for 196 days time served, $475 in fines and fees and state drug treatment program eligible on a count of possession with intent to deliver and 12 to 24 months incarceration on a count of criminal use of a communications facility.

¯ Levi F. Reedy, 27, Corry, Pa., to one year restrictive probation including three days incarceration with credit for three days time served, $475 in fines and fees, 20 hours of community service and drug and alcohol treatment on a count of possession of a controlled substance.

¯ Kyle M. Reynolds, 29, Warren, to five years restrictive probation including 30 days incarceration and 60 days house arrest, $2,575 in fines and fees, work release eligibility, submission of a DNA sample, drug and alcohol treatment, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs, an 18 month license suspension an 60 hours of community service on a count of DUI.

¯ Eryn B. Sharp, 30, East Hickory, Pa., to one year probation, $375 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample, 20 hours of community service, $68.20 in restitution and a no trespass order at Walmart on a count of retail theft.

¯ Edward C. Thornton, 42, Sugar Grove, to 18 months to five years incarceration with credit for 224 days time served, $2,375 in fines and fees, to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations, participation in the alcohol highway safety school and victim impact panel programs, submission of a DNA sample and an 18 month license suspension on a count of DUI as well as 90 days incarceration and $1,000 in fines and fees on driving on a suspension DUI related. At a second docket, Thornton was sentenced to nine to 18 months incarceration and $625 in fines and fees, 90 days and $300 in fines and fees on a count of driving on a suspended license DUI related as well as $70 each on charges of failure to stop at red signal and obedience to traffic control devices. At a third docket, Thornton was sentenced to nine to 18 months incarceration and $625 in fines and fees, six to 12 months incarceration, $16,333.17 in restitution and a no contact/no trespass order on a count of accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, 27 months to seven years incarceration, $3,350 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample and an 18 month license suspension as well as $70 on a count of careless driving.

¯ Scott W. Wagner, 45, Warren, to 15 to 45 months incarceration, $625 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample and a no contact/no trespass order on a count of terroristic threats as well as $300 on a count of public drunkenness. At a second docket, he was ordered to pay $300 in fines and fees on a count of public drunkenness.

¯ Samuel A. Walton, 49, Corry, Pa., to 10 months to two years less one day incarceration including three days time served, work release and early reentry eligibility, submission of a DNA sample, one year probation, to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with recommendations, 50 hours of community service and $725 in fines and fees on a count of possession with intent to deliver as well as a $750 fine, 90 days probation and 10 hours of community service on a count of illegal operation of a vehicle without ignition interlock.

A bench warrant was issued for failure to appear against Christopher A. Phillips, II, 32, Warren. Phillips was to be sentenced on two dockets on charges including DUI, possession of a controlled substance, careless driving and accident involving damage to an attended vehicle or property.

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