EBENSBURG — A Johnstown man who admitted he’s been addicted to drugs and alcohol for years was sentenced Thursday to 11 1/2 to 23 months in the county jail for breaking into a vacant house and attempting to steal copper piping.
Artrell Hawkins Sr. also drew a concurrent term of six to 23 months on a guilty plea to stealing a digital camera.
He told Judge Norman Krumenacker, “I started drug addiction as a kid. It consumes me, controls me. The only way I can control my addiction to stay in the (rehabilitation) program.”
Saying that he’s attempting to stay away from drugs and alcohol, Hawkins said, “I live my life one day at a time. If I don’t control my problem, I will end up back in the court system.”
Public Defender Maribeth Schaffer said that Hawkins had completed some rehab programs.
Hawkins, 51, of the 300 block of Wood Street, was given until noon Tuesday to report to the county prison. He will be eligible for work release, the judge said.
“If you fail to appear, I will bring you back and sentence you to five years in state prison,” Krumenacker warned.
In the criminal trespass case, Hawkins was accused of illegally entering the vacant double house on March 11 in the 100 block of Dupont Street.
A gas meter-reader discovered Hawkins attempting to crawl from a basement window, the police said. The copper piping was found on the floor, and water was spreading onto the basement floor, the police said.
Hawkins also was accused of stealing the camera from an Oak Street house on Oct. 9.
Local News
Judge orders jail in pipe-theft try
- Local News
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
