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Firefighter who admitted to arson fires gets long state prison term

The last of four volunteer firefighters who pleaded guilty to starting fires in vacant buildings and barns on farms in eastern part of the county was sentenced by President Judge Willliam E. Baldwin in the Schuylkill County Court.

Shawn Matthew Hoy, 22, Long Run Road, Pine Grove, pleaded guilty to 92 charges and received a sentence 13 to 26 years in a state correctional institution and ordered to make restitution to a number of victims which totaled $725,982.42. He was sentenced on 10 counts of arson.The restitution he was ordered to pay were to victims as follows:James Birdsall, 51 Arrow Road, New Ringgold, $54,928; Robert Deeds, 1217 White Bear Road, New Ringgold, $500; Jeffrey S. Faust, 512 Greentree Drive, Auburn, $1,000; Austin Knowles, 527 Greentree Drive, Auburn, $60,000; Jeff and Catherine Hill, 24 West Rausch Road, Orwigsburg, $250; Gary and Cynthia Wolfe, 488 Deturksville Road, Pine Grove, $3,000; and Dennis Marbeger, 411 Schwartz Valley Road, Schuylkill Haven, $14,550.Several insurance companies put in claims after paying on policies and the court ordered restitution as follows:Farmland Claims, Columbus, Ohio, $5,000; Knightbrook Insurance Company, Valley View, Hegins Township, $111,700; Westfield Insurance Company, Royersford, $125,701.27; Erie Insurance Company, Mechanicsburg, $26,401.16; and Staet Farm Insurance Company, Concordville, $313,133.99.The restitution is to be made jointly or severally with the other defendants.They are Jonathan Dale Eichert, 22, Orwigsburg, received a sentence of 10 to 20 years in a state prison; Charles Joseph Ferguson, 20, Schuylkill Haven, nine to 23 months in the county prison; and Dale Cahrls Smith, 21, Pottsville, nine to 23 months in the county prison.Other casesJudge Baldwin also sentenced 10 other defendants who entered guilty pleas.Ashlie N. Mabry, 25, Pottsville, on a charge of burglary of a residence in Buck Run, Foster Township, was sentenced to serve six to 23 months in the county prison and have no contact with victims, Timothy and Vera Slane, 14 Community Square, Buck Run.Mabry was cited by Patrolman Dennis Levin, Cass/Foster Townships police. She also pleaded guilty to criminal use of a cell phone and was given additional 12 months probation, and pay $50 to Crimina Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA). She was cited by Pottsville Capt. Richard Wojciechowsky.Toni Ann Tarantini, 23, Fairfax, Va., on a charge of aggravated assault on a Pottsville police officer was sentenced to serve five to 10 years in a state correctional institution with credit for serving 188 days in the county prison, pay $50 to CJEA, and make restitution of $250 to Officer Kathleen Mulacheskie and $40 to Officer William Lauderman.Hubert Wakefield, 32, Reading, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia in Shenandoah, was sentenced to serve one to six months in the county prison, and pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE). On a charge of a driver required to be licensed was fined $200 plus $50 costs. Wakefield was cited by Shenandoah Patrolman Robert Senape.Tammy Lee Heffner, 53, Valley View, Hegins Township, on a charge of theft by deception was placed on probation 18 months, pay $50 to CJEA, and make restitution of $910.88 to Rarick Fuel Delivery Company and $50 to district attorney's office for a bench warrant. Heffner was cited by Trooper Kurt Salak.Virginia Eilene Justiniano-Kresge, 51, Pine Grove, on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia was sentenced to serve 12 months on probation, and pay $100 to SAE fund. On a charge of cruelty to animals was fined $100.Dustin Scott Hoover, 29, Pottsvile, on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) was sentenced to serve five days to six months in the county prison, pay a fine of $300, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete alcohol highway safe driving school, received outpatient substance abuse treatment and pay $100 to Catastrophe fund. On a chage of rear lights not working properly was fined $25 plus $50 costs. He was cited by Pine Grove Sgt. Jeffrey Futchko.Jason Raymond Brown, 34, Cressona, on a charge of harassing Lindsay Brown, Pottsville, was fined $50 and costs.David Matthew Brady, 35, Saint Clair, on a charge of harassing Melissa Robinson was fined $50 plus costs.Genarro David Delatorre, 26, Pottsville, on charges of DUI,simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness had his sentencing deferred to a later date as the court ordered a presentence investigation. He was cited by Trooper Roy Eiler at Turkey HIll MIni Mart, Ashland.Daniel Christman Krynak, 55, Harrisburg, entered a guilty plea to a charge of DUI and the court deferred sentence to a later date. Krynak was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey.Each defendant must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.