Office of the District Attorney

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District Attorney: Gary F. Dobias, Esq.

Carbon County Courthouse
2^nd Floor
Phone: (570) 325-2718
Fax: (570) 325-3525

First Asst. Dist. Atty: William E. McDonald, Esq.
Assistant District Attorney: Cynthia Dydra-Hatton
Assistant District Attorney: Jean A. Engler, Esq.
Assistant District Attorney: Joseph J. Matika, Esq.
Assistant District Attorney: Michael Greek, Esq.
Assistant District Attorney: James Lavelle, Esq.
County Detectives: Joseph V. Pampanin, John Mauro
Victim/Witness Coordinator: John Mauro
Office Administrator: Nancy Juracka
Deputy Office Administrator: Mary A. Rayno
Clerk Typist II: Joan M. O’Donnell

District Attorney Gary F. Dobias was elected to the Office in 1992, and is chief law enforcement officer in Carbon County. Attorney Dobias and his staff of six Assistant District Attorneys, are responsible for the prosecution of those accused of violating the criminal laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In addition to the trial of all criminal cases, the District Attorney’s Office routinely handles preliminary hearings of all adult defendants, conducts pre-trial conferences of adult and juvenile defendants, and prosecutes all violations of probation and parole. This Office also coordinates and assists the Carbon County Drug Task Force, which deals with drug violations throughout the County.

District Attorney Statistics 1999

In 1999, 809 new criminal cases were filed – up from 730 cases in 1998, an increase of 11%. This was an all time high number of new criminal cases filed.

Cases are handled or disposed of through a trial, a plea, or acceptance in a special probationary program called ARD. ARD allows first-time offenders of certain non-violent crimes to be placed on probation for up to two years. After successfully completing the program, defendants shall have their charges dismissed and records expunged. Of the 782 cases disposed of in 1999, 295 or 38% were processed through ARD program.

The overall conviction rate in 1999 was 92.5%, compared to 90.8% in 1998.

Last year, 9 criminal trials were held, 3 less than the previous year. In 1997, there were 14 trials, and in 1996, 10 trials.

Of the 9 trials conducted last year, 11 defendants chose to have their case heard by a jury, and 1 defendant chose a bench trial.

Of the nine trials conducted last year, seven defendants chose to have their cases heard by a jury. Of those seven trials, five resulted in convictions, including four for criminal homicide. There were also two bench trials, heard by a judge without a jury.

The 483 criminal cases not processed through the ARD program break down into the following crime categories:

Property and theft related crimes	73
Driving under the influence	177
Drug offenses	40
Assault and related crimes	49
Crimes against persons	33
Sex offenses	11
Weapon offenses	8
Other offenses	92
TOTAL	483

In 1996, the District Attorney’s Office began a Victim/Witness Program under the supervision of John Mauro. Under Act 155, victims and/or witnesses are provided services such as notice of Court proceedings, Court dispositions, identification of professional, qualified support groups, and notification of defendants being released from state and local correctional facilities and mental institutions.