LOCK HAVEN, PA – Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse reported that Britney Hostrander, a 28-year-old from Williamsport, was sentenced on Tuesday to an 84-month term of supervision. The sentencing included nine months in the Clinton County Correctional Facility and six months under house arrest. Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury sentenced Hostrander for one count of Access Device Fraud, two counts of Identity Theft , and two counts of Financial Exploitation of an Older Adult.
The charges were brought against Hostrander after a 76-year-old woman from McElhatten and her 80-year-old husband noticed unusual purchases on their credit cards. Pine Creek Sgt. Denny Gill traced the fraud back to Hostrander, who had used the couple’s credit cards for personal expenses, including vehicle costs and paying off fines in a separate Mifflin County criminal case.
Despite Hostrander’s apology and full restitution before sentencing, along with her request for probation, Judge Salisbury decided on a custodial sentence followed by an extensive supervisory period. Additionally, Hostrander is now barred from any employment involving services to older individuals. It was revealed during the pre-sentence investigation that Hostrander secured employment with another home care company amidst her pending criminal charges.
- Woman killed in early morning stabbing on Hazle Street in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, PA – In the early hours of Saturday morning, a 30-year-old woman was fatally wounded in the neck during an incident on Hazle Street. Police were called to the 190 block just before 3:40 a.m., where they found the victim bleeding and in critical condition.
Officers provided immediate first aid before the woman was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators from the Wilkes-Barre Police Department and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene, which was secured for processing by the Pennsylvania State Police Forensics Unit.
Authorities have identified a female suspect in connection with the attack. The investigation remains active, and police are urging anyone with information to contact detectives.
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Key Points
- 30-year-old woman fatally stabbed in the neck early Saturday morning on Hazle Street
- A female suspect has been identified, but no further details have been released
- Police and prosecutors are investigating, with forensic processing handled by state police
- Bar fight in Mount Joy ends with man aiming loaded gun
MOUNT JOY, PA – The late-night shouting match began inside a Mount Joy bar but turned dangerous when a man allegedly pulled out a loaded gun in the parking lot.
Just before midnight on July 18, police say 22-year-old Matthew Sterl Achenbach argued with another man inside the bar before the confrontation moved outside. According to the victim, Achenbach pulled a handgun from his waistband, loaded a round into the chamber, aimed it directly at him, and threatened to kill him.
Officers arrived to find Achenbach still holding the loaded firearm. Investigators say he does not have a license to carry and initially refused to answer questions before voluntarily admitting to pointing the weapon.
Achenbach, of the first block of West Main Street, faces charges including aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without a license, simple assault, possession of a weapon, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, harassment, and disorderly conduct.
He waived his preliminary hearing before Judge Michael Hess on Tuesday, sending the case to Lancaster County Court. Achenbach remains in Lancaster County Prison on $100,000 bail. Assistant District Attorney Anthony Gilbert is prosecuting the case, which was filed by Mount Joy Borough Police Officer Nathan Reed.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Key Points
- Matthew Sterl Achenbach accused of pointing a loaded gun at a man after a bar argument in Mount Joy
- Waived preliminary hearing, sending the case to Lancaster County Court
- Held in county prison on $100,000 bail without a license to carry firearm
- Gun found in carry-on at Pittsburgh airport leads to charge
Pittsburgh, PA – A West Virginia man is facing charges after TSA officers discovered a handgun in his carry-on bag at Pittsburgh International Airport Friday morning.
Authorities say the firearm was spotted during screening at the airport’s alternate security checkpoint at about 6:50 a.m. on August 8. TSA notified Allegheny County Police, who identified the passenger as 39-year-old Wayne Parker Jr.
Investigators determined Parker did not have a valid concealed carry permit. He was charged with one misdemeanor count of carrying a firearm without a license. The FBI was also notified of the incident.
TSA officials note that bringing a firearm to a checkpoint can result in civil fines of up to $10,000, with repeat offenders facing penalties of up to $13,910.
Key Points
- TSA found handgun in carry-on at Pittsburgh International Airport
- Passenger, 39-year-old Wayne Parker Jr., lacked a concealed carry permit
- TSA warns of fines up to $10,000 for bringing guns to checkpoints
