WOMAN SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON

A 37-year-old Emporium woman was sentenced to state prison during court proceedings in Cameron County Tuesday.

Carol L. Copp plead guilty to forgery for stealing a check from a friend's checkbook and writing the check out to herself.

President Judge Rich Masson cited Copp's "unflagging disregard for the law" when he sentenced her to 12-24 months in the Muncy State Correctional Facility for women.

"I don't believe that (anything less) will address the seriousness of the situation or your (need for) rehabilitation," Masson said, noting that Copp had been arrested for as many as 15 other similar crimes over the past 11 years. "Your behavior hasn't changed and didn't change even after you were incarcerated previously."

Copp, who was a no-show at three previous proceedings before Masson, said she has mental health issues, as well as an alcohol addiction.

The judge said he was "compelled" to believe that, but because Copp had missed the mandated pre-trial proceedings he was "just learning of these facts today."

Masson did not give Copp credit for time served. The nearly 30 days she spent at Tioga County Prison was for contempt of court, he said, not part of her guilty plea to forgery.

In other proceedings, Jessica Grovanz, 24, of Emporium, plead guilty to theft. Charges stem from incidents in which Grovanz, who was working for Mountain Laurel Credit Union at the time, electronically withdrew money from two customer accounts and placed it in hers. Grovanz said she stole the money to support a drug habit.

Grovanz also plead guilty to two simple assault charges, both of which were unrelated to the theft charges.

In addition to putting Grovanz on probation, Masson also mandated that she undergo drug and anger management counseling at her own expense. She was also ordered to pay over $2,000 in fines and restitution.

Three people from Cameron County, Yvonne M. Baird, Sabrina R. Webster and Stanley P. Herzing, and a McKean County man, Matthew S. Skok, all were entered into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for a period of six months. All four must each pay $50 to the Alcohol Abuse Fund, complete the Alcohol Highway Safety School, perform 35 hours of community service and surrender their Pennsylvania driver's licenses for a period of 60 days with the exception of Webster, who was only to lose her license for 30 days.

An Illinois man, Randall G. Branham, 45, was placed on probation for a year for failing to register in Pennsylvania as a sex offender under Megan's Law. Branham had been staying at his girlfriend's house in Emporium.

Anyone who is a registered sexual offender must register in any state that they reside in for more than 48 hours. Since failing to register as a sexual offender is a felony offense, Branham must also provide a DNA sample to the state police at his expense.

He was sentenced to an additional 12 months for assaulting Denise Osti, who was his girlfriend at the time.

Steven E. Smoker, 32, of Emporium was sentenced for his second DUI. Judge Masson entered him into the State Intermediate Punishment (SIP) program. The judge also assessed a fine of $1,500, 90 days to 5 years of incarceration, 50 hours of community service, loss of his Pa. driver's license for 18 months and over $800 in fees and costs.

Because of his occupational status and his clean prior record, Smoker is eligible for work release, meaning he will be allowed to serve his jail time during the weekends. He must also participate in the Alcohol Highway Safety School.

Robert E. Moore, 30, of Rich Valley, was sentenced for simple assault. Moore must undergo 12 months of probation, pay prosecution costs and a $300 fine from the incident which occurred several months ago at his residence.

Moore and his girlfriend, Jennifer Skillman, had been involved in a verbal altercation when she packed up her children and went to leave, according to testimony. Before she could get out of the driveway, Moore threw a large rock through the passenger side window hitting Skillman's 15-year-old brother and causing minor injuries.

As a special condition, Moore must take anger management classes at his expense.