Stang sentenced in pharmacy drug heists

BY STACI WILSON

A 20-year-oldLawtonman was sentenced Thursday, Aug. 16, for his role in the burglary of pharmacies in three counties last fall.

Derek Stang, along with various co-defendants, broke into Miller’s Pharmacy, Wyalusing on Sept. 23, 2011; the Dushore Pharmacy, Dushore on Oct. 25, 2011; and the Medical Arts Pharmacy, Montrose on Oct. 26, 2011.

At Stang’s May 25 plea hearing, District Attorney Jason Legg told the court that nearly 3,500 pills, including Vicodin, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone were taken in the three break-ins.

As part of the plea agreement Stang was sentenced by President Judge Kenneth Seamans to serve nine to 23-1/2 months in the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility for Dushore Pharmacy burglary and a concurrent nine to 23-1/2 months for the burglary at the Medical Arts Pharmacy in Montrose.

Stang was also sentenced to serve a consecutive five years probation for the burglary of Miller’s Pharmacy in Wyalusing.

At the sentencing hearing, Legg told the court that Stang had taken proactive steps with his behavior and had been cooperated in the investigation.

Judge Seamans reminded Stang of the fable, “You knew I was a snake” where – in some tellings, a Native American boy rescues a venomous snake only to be bitten by it – in warning him about the dangers of using illegal drugs.

But the judge said, it was too late in the morning to tell the whole tale. Instead the judge simply told Stang, “You knew what they were when you picked them up. Don’t pick them up.”

Others sentenced Thursday, Aug. 16 in the Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas included:

Larry James Phillips Jr., 42, of Montrose, to one to two years in a state correctional facility to run concurrent to any prior sentences followed by four years special probation for Escape on June 20, in Bridgewater Twp. Phillips also received one to two years to run concurrent with any prior sentences for Failure to Comply with Registration of Sexual Offender Requirements in New Milford on March 20.

Jeremiah James Dewitt, 27, of Susquehanna, to six months probation for Driving Under the Influence inBridgewaterTwp. on Sept. 17, 2011.. Dewitt also received six months probation for Driving Under the Influence in Bridgewater Twp. on Aug. 8, 2011. Dewitt received 15 months probation for Recklessly Endangering Another Person in Bridgewater Twp. on Aug. 8, 2011.

Phillip Anthony KesloIII, 35, of Union Dale, to four and one-half years probation for Receiving Stolen Property in Thompson Borough on April 29, 2011. Keslo also received four and one-half years probation for Receiving Stolen Property in Union Dale Borough on Jan. 1, 2010. Finally, Keslo received four and one-half years probation for Receiving Stolen Property in Thompson Borough on Apr. 29, 2011.

Shawn Fiorentino, 36, of Montrose, to eight to 30 months for Theft by Unlawful Taking in Ararat Twp. on Dec. 4, 2011.

Andrew Patrick Scro, 53, of Susquehanna, five days to six months for Driving Under the Influence in Susquehanna Borough on Feb. 24, 2012.

Evan Hess, 18, of Huguenot, N.Y. to 24 months probation for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle on May 14, in Forest City Borough.

Michael Todd Donovan, 38, of Clifford, to 24 months probation for Simple Assault in Clifford Twp. on June 8. Donovan also received three years probation to run concurrent with the above sentence, for Stalking in Clifford Twp. on June 20.