Police Briefs, 11/22/09

Man charged with disorderly conduct following horse whip incident

Duane Allen Benscoter, 55, of Newell, S.D., faces charges of disorderly conduct and violations of the criminal code concerning a former convict not to own a firearm in connection with an incident that occurred at around midnight on Nov. 18 in Athens Township, according to documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

According to an affidavit:

Police responded to a call concerning a man in cowboy clothes allegedly harassing and bothering several female employees and a female customer at the Wal-Mart in Athens Township.

Upon arrival, police said Wal-Mart staff reported that Benscoter had a horse whip and was acting strange, making sexual comments to female employees and a customer. While speaking with Wal-Mart staff, police observed Benscoter attempting to leave the store with a cart and stopped him. Benscoter allegedly had a black horse whip in the cart and a pair of handcuffs as well as a large hunting knife on his belt. The female employees stated to police that they were scared, annoyed and alarmed by Benscoter's behavior, as well as him having the whip, handcuffs and knife.

When interviewed by police, Benscoter allegedly stated that he was not allowed to possess guns as he was convicted of a felony previously and gave verbal consent for police to search his truck.

During a search of Benscoter's person, four knives were allegedly found, and in his truck, a London Small Arms Mark 111 .303 Caliber was found along with a Crossman 1008 Repeatair pellet gun, a box of Winchester 30-06 ammunition, several knives and a sword. The items were all seized as evidence, police said.

A criminal history check on Benscoter revealed that he was convicted on Aug. 15, 2005, of possession of prohibited offensive weapons in Wyoming Co., Pa.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 24 for Benscoter to answer the charges, and bail was set at $50,000.

Two charged with corruption of minors

Shannon L. Cornish, 33, and Damon Scott Cornish, 31, both of Athens, face charges of corruption of minors and selling or furnishing liquor or malt beverages to minors in connection with an incident that occurred on Oct. 30 in Athens Borough, according to court documents filed at Magisterial Judge Michael Shaw's office.

Shannon and Damon Cornish are accused of providing beer and jello shots made with liquor to a person less than 21 years of age, the documents stated.

Shannon and Damon Cornish have preliminary hearings set for Dec. 8 to answer the charges.

Athens man charged in assault

David C. Wilson, 35, of Athens, faces charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment in connection with an incident which occurred at around 2:42 a.m. on Nov. 20 in Athens Borough, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

Wilson is accused of grabbing a woman by the neck and choking her, grabbing the woman by the hair and pulling her backwards, causing her to be slammed onto the floor and struck in the left side of her chest causing a contusion on the left side of her chest and substantial pain to the top portion of her head extending down the neck and back, according to court documents.

Wilson is also accused of threatening the woman while holding and activating a cordless drill, the documents stated.

The woman was transported to the Robert Packer Hospital for treatment by Greater Valley EMS, the documents stated.

A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 1, and bail was set at $60,000.

Towanda man charged with burglary

Gary Lee Josyln Jr., 37, of Towanda, has been charged with burglary, criminal trespass, defiant trespass and simple assault in connection with an incident which occurred at around 1:40 a.m. on Nov. 20, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark's office.

Josyln is accused of entering the residence of Stephen Space on Elizabeth Street in Towanda and striking Space with a closed fist after being told to leave, the documents stated.

A preliminary hearing has been set for 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 25 for Joslyn to answer the charges.

DUI in Wyalusing

Grant Thomas Lockhart, 25, of Greenville, Pa., has been charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and vehicle code violations in connection with an incident which occurred at around 2:16 p.m. on Oct. 14 in Wyalusing Borough, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton's office.

According to an affadavit:

State police on patrol were informed of an erratic driver in a green Ford Taurus with a smashed windshield traveling east on U.S. 6 in Wyalusing Borough. A state trooper in Wyalusing observed and stopped the vehicle. During interaction with the driver, state police observed indicators that the driver, Lockhart, was under the influence of a controlled substance.

Lockhart was placed under a rest and during an inventory search of Lockhart's vehicle, police found three bottles of prescription medication, one prescribed for Lockhart and two not prescribed for Lockhart, one labeled Oxycodone and one labeled Simvastatin.

A chemical test of blood indicated that Lockhart was under the influence of a controlled substance.

A preliminary hearing was set for 12:45 p.m. on Dec. 9 for Lockhart to answer the charges.

Unknown person takes fuel

An unknown person took approximately 30 gallons of diesel fuel out of a John Deere 650 dozer belonging to Push-N-Pull Dozer Services from McAlester, Okla., between Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 at a location off of Maple Lane in Smithfield Township, according to state police at Towanda.

Unknown person takes revolver

A 64-year-old Troy man reported the theft of a .357 stainless steel Ruger Revolver from his residence on Columbia Lane in Columbia Township at around noon on Nov. 6, according to state police at Towanda. The actor is unknown at this time and the investigation is continuing, police stated.

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