CLEARFIELD – A man who ran from police while carrying a large amount of methamphetamine, one who assaulted a handicapped woman and another accused of setting fire to his home were among those pleading guilty during sessions of sentencing and colloquy court Tuesday.
James Michael Dillen, 26, of Grassflat pleaded guilty to felony counts of possession with intent to deliver between 10 to 50 grams of methamphetamine and flight to avoid apprehension for which he was sentenced by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman to 20 to 40 months in state prison.
He also pleaded guilty in a second case to misdemeanor fleeing or eluding police and was given three years concurrent probation.
According to his affidavit, Dillen, who had several warrants for his arrest was taken into custody by state police in April after he fled on foot through a wooded area in Bradford Township. He was found to have 56 grams of methamphetamine and several pieces of drug paraphernalia.
Daniel Katz, 41, of Houtzdale, was originally charged with felony strangulation, but he pleaded guilty to lesser charges Tuesday of terroristic threats, simple assault, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to six months to 12 months in the county jail.
An investigation began on Feb. 14 after a student at the Moshannon Valley School reported that his mother had been assaulted at a residence in Gulich Township.
When police arrived at the home, they found the victim, who requires a wheelchair to get around, had a cut on her nose and chin as well as bruising around her neck, according to the affidavit.
She told the troopers after they argued, Katz drop kicked her in the chest, bit her nose, threw vape juice at her, punched her in the ribs and strangled her with his hands.
Dahr L. Dodge, 46, of Woodland, pleaded guilty to failure to control dangerous burning and recklessly endangering another person, both misdemeanor charges.
Ammerman sentenced him to six months to two years in state prison. He was also ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Dodge, who is handicapped, specifically asked to be sentenced to state prison because he believes they have better handicapped facilities there than in the county jail.
Police say Dodge confessed to setting a fire in a trash can in the living room of his home in Bradford Township on Feb. 4.
In court Tuesday, Dodge stated that he needed to de-assemble his old trailer so he set it on fire.
Mitchell Morgan, 29, of Philipsburg, was found passed out in a vehicle on May 2 in Wallaceton, according to his affidavit.
When he got out of the vehicle, troopers saw a black handgun on the floorboards where he was sitting. He also had a magazine in his boot that belonged to the weapon. A check of the firearm revealed the gun was stolen.
He was sent to state prison for 30 months to 60 months for felony receiving stolen property.
In a separate felony theft case from May 18, Morgan and two other men reportedly stole copper from a Chester Hill residence.
Ammerman gave him a concurrent 30 months to 60 months sentence for this case. Morgan must also pay $750 in restitution.
The case against Ching Yam Yeung, 21, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 80 in June 2019, was continued because he is currently in Florence State Mental Hospital for treatment.
He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude police, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, accidents involving damage and many summaries for his actions that include striking a vehicle without stopping and ramming a police car.