Williamsport area man charged with multiple felonies

Thomas Lee Smith, 46, of 738 Antlers Lane, surrendered to law enforcement on Thursday morning to face a series of felony charges for his involvement in a burglary in mid-April 2024 that occurred at a vacant building in which copper piping as as well as copper wire and aluminum floor-board heaters were removed, resulting in an estimated $50,000 damage to the structure, state police alleged in an affidavit that was filed this week at the office of District Judge William Solomon.

Accompanied by his parents, Smith showed up at Solomon’s office about 9:30 a.m. to be arraigned on charges of burglary, trespassing, criminal mischief, theft and receiving stolen property. The burglary at 8998 Lycoming Creek Road in Lewis Township from where the copper wire and piping were stolen, police said. The owner of the building was not listed in the court document.

During the investigation, shoeprints lifted at the scene marched shoes that police seized from Smith’s home while executing a search warrant two weeks after the break-in, police said. Investigators also have photos of Smith at a local recycling business turning in copper and scrap metal believed to be taken in the burglary. Following his arraignment, Smith was released on $75,000 bail.

‘A present’ results in city woman facing firearm-related charges

Even though she was aware that Jaziah Strickland “was not allowed to have a firearm, but (that he) wanted one,” Kara Marie Watkins has admitted that she gave the 26-year-old convicted felon a handgun “as a present,” it was alleged in an affidavit filed by a detective assigned to the county’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit.

Watkins, 27, of 1404 Memorial Ave., has now been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and one count of conspiracy, both felonies, for allegedly giving Strickland a handgun he was prohibited from possessing, according to an affidavit. After receiving the gun from Watkins, Strickland posted on his social media page on Oct. 31 a photo and a video that showed him with the weapon, it was alleged in another affidavit that was filed when he was arrested on Nov. 7 on charges of convicted felon not to possess a firearm.

When officers took Strickland, of Lewisburg, into custody near West Fourth and Walnut streets, they seized the firearm that Watkins allegedly gave him, investigators said, adding it was in his 1-year-old son’s diaper bag. Strickland remains jailed in lieu of $75,000 bail, awaiting trial. Watkins waived her preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Christian Frey on the two felonies and is free on $25,000 bail.

City woman charged after allegedly breaking convenience store door

Iyonna Eddins, 25, of 617 Third Ave., has been charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct for allegedly kicking the front doors of the 6th and High Mini Mart, 1037 High St., shattering the glass, on July 23, according to city police. She recently waived her preliminary hearing before District Judge Aaron Biichle and was released on $5,000 bail.

Domestic disturbance lands city man behind bars

Joseph Michael Miller, 43, of 77 Washington Blvd., has been jailed on charges of simple assault and harassment for punching a family member multiple times in the face and head and then dragging the victim by her hair in his home about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, city police alleged. Following his arraignment before District Judge Garty Whiteman, Miller was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.

State prison inmate faces new set of charges

Daniel Raymond Engleman, the 36-year-old Muncy fugitive who took several law enforcement officers on a 10 to 15-minute foot chase through the borough on the afternoon of Oct. 28 before he was captured in someone’s garage at 110 W. Water St., has been charged with burglary, trespassing and flight to avoid apprehension, all felonies.

Currently an inmate at the state Correctional Institution in Coal Township on a state parole violation, Engleman has waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Kirsten Gardner and is free on bail in this case although he remains incarcerated.

Clinton County man charged with theft

Joseph Charles Newman, 44, of Lock Haven, has been charged with theft by deception after failing to return $50 to a woman who gave him the money through a mutual friend in mid-August to travel to New York to pick up a new engine for her car, it was alleged in a city police affidavit.

The money transaction took place in the 1100 block of Washington Boulevard, police said. Claiming that his bank account had been hacked, Newnan told the woman he would not have the money “up front” to get the engine, and he supposedly never made the New York trip, police were told. After initially telling the woman he would return her $50, Newman “ceased conversation” with her and allegedly never gave the money back, police said.

He has since waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Aaron Biichle and is free on $5,000 bail.