Criminal Justice

A simulation led by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute showed local leaders the challenges people face with income, ID, employment and more after being released from prison.

The Northampton County District Attorney’s Office plans to announce criminal charges Wednesday against an East Hills Middle School resource officer accused of statutory sexual assault and related felonies. He also served as a middle school soccer coach, according to the Bethlehem Area School District.

Northampton County prosecutors and Slate Belt police announced charges Tuesday in a string of robberies in Pen Argyl last winter.

Mayor David Heintzelman announced a new “officer in charge” of the Hellertown Police Department. One official said if the borough added six full-time officers as recommended in a report, taxpayers would bear the brunt of an estimated 35% property tax increase.

The powerful animal tranquilizer is showing up in supplies of illicit drugs and is contributing to a growing number of overdose deaths, including in the Lehigh Valley.

Someone robbed a bank in west Allentown while police responded Monday to a report of an armed person on the college campus, according to police.

A 29-year-old former Parkland student, who lived in a home owned by district performing arts director Frank Anonia, was sentenced to county prison last month on a charge of possessing child pornography.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced on Friday that six persons have been charged in a large-scale burglary ring throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.

A Palmer Township police officer has been arrested for allegedly sending inappropriate images of himself to an underage Easton Area High School student, authorities said.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a Lehigh County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a January 2023 shooting in Allentown.

Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana is making a move to codify pro-immigrant policies just after Allentown's council passed a similar measure days ago.

Pedro Junior Paulino, 35, and David Isaiah Rivera, 26, both of Allentown, face homicide and attempted homicide charges in connection with a fatal shooting Sunday morning.

Ivan Diaz, 32, of Lower Macungie Township, was shot and killed early Sunday morning outside BKK Lounge. Three others were injured in the shooting, according to authorities.

Last year, Northampton County prosecutors argued that Phillipsburg resident Tahir Sutton was released from prison by mistake and should be locked up again. On Wednesday, a county judge ruled that Sutton must report to prison in early April unless an appeals court intercedes.

According to a release issued by ICE, Luis Gualdron-Gualdron, “a citizen and national of Venezuela who previously entered the United States without inspection,” was arrested on Jan. 31 without incident near the prison shortly after an immigration detainer was not honored.

Neighbors say a state police pursuit came to a dramatic conclusion at approximately 11:56 p.m., with one car on the street engulfed in flames.

David Isaiah Rivera, 26, was arraigned on charges alleging he fired at a group of people around 4 a.m. outside BKK Lounge, 1500 Union Boulevard, after a fight between two groups inside the club spilled into the parking lot.

A 32-year-old man died and three other people were wounded in a shooting in the parking lot of BKK Lounge, 1500 Union Blvd., early Sunday, according to Allentown police. It was the city's first homicide of 2025.

Jason Krasley, the former Allentown police officer already facing felony charges in two cases, was charged again Thursday, according to court documents. His total bail adds up to almost $1 million.

Brenda Rodriguez, 51, of Palmerton is charged with criminal solicitation/criminal homicide and conspiracy-aggravated assault in the shooting death of her husband, Hector Manuel Garcia Gomez, 46, of Palmerton on Dec. 7.

Joshua and Tracy Dechant were charged Sunday with two felony counts each, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a release.

Evan Weaver and Jason Krasley were in Lehigh County Court, where their lawyers argued Thursday against Lehigh County prosecutors' motion to revoke their bail.