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
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
