A Johnstown man has pleaded guilty to violating federal drug laws. Walter E. Parks III of the 100 block of Jesse Lane entered his plea in federal court before U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson.
Parks was accused of distributing heroin in 2005. He also was charged with using forged prescriptions in 2006 to illegally obtain painkillers from five local pharmacies.
The FBI, Cambria County Drug Task Force and Richland Township police investigated the incidents.
Parks’ sentencing is scheduled for September.
In other crime news:
• Man charged with indecent assault
State police have charged Donald B. Garver, 57, of the 1300 block of Fourth Street in Nanty Glo, with three counts of indecent assault and one count each of indecent exposure and open lewdness as a result of incidents they say took place in July and August.
The incidents involved a juvenile who was younger than 13 at the time, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Kenneth Durbin.
The incidents happened in Nanty Glo, according to the police criminal complaint.
Reached by telephone Tuesday, Durbin declined to give the gender of the victim, citing the victim’s juvenile status.
A preliminary hearing for Garver is scheduled for June 23 before District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi of Vinco.
• Blair resident admits timber thefts
A Blair County man has pleaded guilty to stealing timber or the proceeds from it and not paying state income taxes from 2003 to 2005.
It’s unclear how much prison time 37-year-old Francis Ritchey of Claysburg faces.
A hearing will be held June 9 to determine the value of the thefts. That, in turn, will drive the state sentencing guidelines.
State prosecutors believe more than $300,000 in timber was stolen and say Ritchey likely faces up to 31/2 to seven years in prison.
Investigators say Ritchey illegally removed timber from land in Blair and Bedford counties without paying for it. In some instances, Ritchey agreed to split the proceeds 50-50 but paid property owners only a fraction of that.
Local News
City man pleads guilty to federal drug charges
- Local News
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Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
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Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
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Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
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Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
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Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
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Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
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Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
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Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
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City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
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Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
