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Old Lycoming Township man charged with criminal solicitation
Douglas Eugene Goodwin, 35, of 1857 Janet Ave., remains behind bars on felony and misdemeanor charges for propositioning minors at Metzger Park in Lycoming Township and attempting to lure them back to his Old Lycoming Township home in early June, Lycoming Regional police alleged in court documents filed at the office of District Judge William Solomon.
"He intentionally solicited minors under the age of 13 to engage in sexual conduct," it was alleged in a criminal complaint.
Following a recent preliminary hearing before Solomon, Goodwin was held for court on all charges, including six felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, two felony counts of solicitation to aggravated indecent assault and two misdemeanor counts each of corrupting the morals of a minor and attempting to lure a child to a residence. Already incarcerated on a probation violation, He remains jailed in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Two face theft-related charges in separate cases
Christine Confer, 54, of 4828 Route 287, Jersey Shore, has been arrested on felony charges of theft and knowingly accepting money for stolen items, according to state police. Troopers allege Confer stole an estimated $4,300 worth of coins from a woman on Route 14 in McIntyre Township in early July and then sold them to a Williamsport business that was unaware that Confer was not their rightful owner. Arraigned before District Judge Christian Frey, Confer was recently held for court on both charges and is free on $15,000 bail.
In another case, Kevin Curtis Heeman, 21, of 28 W. Water St., Muncy, will face further court actions on numerous charges for his alleged involvement in several thefts that took place in the borough between late March and mid-May, according to borough police. Investigators allege he conspired with another person in taking $3,000 worth of tires, wheels and center caps as well as a gaming chair from an apartment at 25 S. Market St.
Police have also accused Heeman of stealing a garden hose, a hose reel cart and nozzle from 227 W. Penn St. Police allege that he received several stolen items, including a mower taken from 144 E. Mechanic St.; a wheelbarrow from 117 Carpenter St.; a Trek bike from 115 S. Market St. and a weed sprayer and leaf blower that were taken from 108 Carpenter St. Charged with theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, Heeman, who was initially jailed, has waived his preliminary hearing before District Judge Kirsten Gardner and is now free on $10,000 bail.
Punishment meant for son results in criminal charges being filed against the father
When he discovered that his juvenile son "was stoned" one Friday night last year, Leland Wade Benson III forced the boy to ingest marijuana and alcohol "as a punishment so that he would be sick and would never have any desire to do it again," it was alleged in a state police court document. The son, whose age was not provided, told police that his 41-year-old father "forced him to smoke three bowls of marijuana and drink two cups of alcohol in front of him" in the family's garage at 165 Shadduck Road in Muncy Creek Township, it was stated in an affidavit. While this was happening, Benson recorded it on his cellphone, according to the son, police said. The minor did get sick to his stomach, police said. The incident happened last Sept. 12, and Benson was questioned by a state trooper about it five days later. Police said he admitted to forcing his son to smoke marijuana as a form of punishment. Benson, who told the trooper that there was still a gram of marijuana in the garage, gave the trooper permission to search the structure. The trooper seized drug paraphernalia and marijuana from the affidavit, it was stated in an affidavit. Police just charged Benson a few weeks ago with corrupting the morals of a minor, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has since waived his preliminary hearing before Gardner and is free on $15,000 bail.
Three charged with shoplifting in separate cases
Habitual convicted shoplifter Stephanie A. Ohargan, 71, of 294 Union Ave., has been arrested yet again, this time by city police who have charged her with one felony count of shoplifting for allegedly stealing $102 worth of merchandise from Wegmans, 201 William St., between March 28 and April 22, it was stated in an affidavit. Police said this was her eighth shoplifting offense. She has since waived her preliminary hearing before District Judge Aaron Biichle and is free on $15,000 bail.
In another case, three-time convicted shoplifter Karen Ann Erdley, 61, of 1418 W. Fourth St., has been charged with felony shoplifting again after she allegedly stole $155 worth of merchandise from the Weis Market. 1916 Lycoming Creek Road, in Old Lycoming Township on Aug. 4, according to Lycoming Regional police. Following her arraignment before Solomon, Erdley was released on $15,000 bail.
In another case, between early February and June 21, Ronald Gary Cooper, 55, of 1811 Hazel Drive, stole an estimated $299 worth of merchandise from the Weis Market at 305 River Ave. in Loyalsock Township, state police alleged in an affidavit. He has waived his preliminary hearing before Solomon and is free on $5,000 bail.