Jersey Shore man jailed following assault in the borough

A family was in their Calvert Street backyard in Jersey Shore, cutting their dogs’ toenails about 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 25 when Samuel Henry Collins suddenly entered the yard illegally by jumping over a fence and began yelling “Stop raping the girls” and told them to let them go, it was stated in a Lycoming Regional police affidavit.

The 46-year-old Collins, who police said was suspected of being “under the influence of methamphetamine,” then punched one of the male family members in the face.

Collins, of 117 N. Lincoln Ave., Jersey Shore, jumped back over the fence and ran down an alley, but the man who was punched chased after him and detained him until police arrived on the scene, it was stated in the court document.

During a physical altercation, Collins told the man “I’ll stab you” as Collins reached into his pocket, police said. However, the court document made no mention of Collins actually being armed with a knife. Collins was “under the influence of multiple controlled substances,” police said.

He was taken into custody and arraigned before District Judge Denise Dieter on charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and harassment and committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Collins waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and was released on bail.

Two women accused of giving false testimony during trial

During Bradley Rinker’s trial in October on charges of indecent assault involving a minor and related offenses, his 34-year-old wife, Miranda Nicole Rinker, and a second woman, Felicia Nicole Auman, 33, both gave false testimony as defense witnesses, it was alleged in court documents recently filed by county Detective Loretta Barger.

At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Eric Linhardt found Rinker, 37, of 79 Loundenslager Road, guilty of indecent assault by forcible compulsion and indecent assault involving a minor under the age of 13. Three felony charges, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of corrupting the morals of a minor, were withdrawn during the trial. The charges were initially filed — and Rinker was arrested — in late February 2024.

Rinker, who remains jailed in lieu bail, is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Miranda Rinker, who has the same address as her husband near the Loyalsock-Eldred township line, and Auman, of 111 Louderslager Road, were arrested Tuesday and arraigned before District Judge Aaron Biichle on charges of felony perjury, false swearing and obstructing the administration of law.

Barger alleges the two “provided false testimony under oath by claiming” that they had no knowledge of any statements the female victim in the case made to them before charges were filed against Rinker.

The two were released on $15,000 bail each.

In another case, this one involving two other minors not at all connected with the 2024 charges, Rinker pleaded no contest in August 2023 to two counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to three to 12 months in jail and will be under supervision for at least four years.

City man charged with shoplifting at Old Lycoming supermarket

Christopher Keith Tawney, 29, of 2323 Newberry St., has been charged with misdemeanor shoplifting after he fled the Weis Market at 1916 Lycoming Creek with $156 worth of merchandise on Dec. 2, Lycoming Regional police alleged in an affidavit.

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