A Lycoming County Prison inmate who was released on electronic monitoring so that he could visit his ailing mother earlier this month now is back behind bars and is facing a new felony charge of flight to avoid apprehension after cutting off his ankle bracelet, according to Chief County Detective William Weber.
Anthony William McGinley, 29, of Mount Carmel, cut the bracelet on Sept. 13, three days after county Judge Marc Lovecchio authorized his release from the jail through the county's intensive supervised bail program, Weber said.
Having pled guilty in mid-July to a city police charge of sexual assault, McGinley had been in prison awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 16, Weber said. Under electronic monitoring, McGinley would have been allowed to stay with his mother until he was sentenced. However, he lost that freedom upon cutting the bracelet and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, Weber said.
McGinley was apprehended in Northumberland County on Monday and automatically incarcerated. He was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Jon E. Kemp on the flight charge as well as criminal mischief. He was recommitted to the jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
