Criminal Justice

More than two years after the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, the former Northampton Community College and DeSales University student pleaded guilty in a deal to avoid the death penalty.

Multiple media outlets report Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. A change of plea hearing is set for Wednesday. Kohberger’s trial had been set to begin in August

Jorge Gonzalez, 40, is accused of killing 85-year-old Elian Makdsi in October 2023 as he was in the intersection at North Jerome Street and Union Boulevard.

Christopher Fitzgerald was a former Lehigh County corrections officer and is the son of former Allentown Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. He was the first Temple University officer killed in the line of duty.

Northampton County officials appointed a new sheriff Wednesday: Christopher Zieger, formerly the department’s second-in-command.

The former West Easton clerk is charged with three felonies for allegedly accepting cash payments for residents' bills but never depositing the money in a borough account. He never returned to work after being sent a text informing him of his suspension in 2023, court records show.

Police said Amir Sims-Watson, 17, opened fire on a group of pedestrians in Allentown before robbing a woman at gunpoint at Trexler Middle School. Two other teens are charged in the shooting.

Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone will host a Clean Slate information session this July to help eligible individuals get on the path to clear their criminal record.

Federal immigration officials on Friday issued their first statement since arresting 17 people at the Five10 Flats on June 11. Mayor J. Williams Reynolds this week described the arrests as "an American tragedy."

District Attorney Gavin Holihan said Gary J. Moyer 73, of South Whitehall, left a note among his final words saying, “Please convey my apologies to the officer who gets stuck shooting me.”

Nicole Ann Stauffer, 47, of Bethlehem, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in her 2-year-old son's death in July 2022 She was sentenced Wednesday in Northampton County Court to 21 to 120 months in state prison.

In a span of about 20 minutes, Emmaus Borough Council thanked retiring Fire Chief John H. Price — he's been involved in fire service for 47 years — and swore in new police officer Matthew James Hutchins.

Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio says a new post-mortem CT scanner should be up and running in 4 to 8 weeks.

William Arthur Strunk of Stroudsburg entered the plea Friday before Judge Paula A. Roscioli, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said in a release Monday.

Allentown police are investigating the incident that they say occurred early Saturday night after they were called to the 1100 block of Fullerton Avenue.

Jason Krasley was a member of the Allentown Police Department's Vice Unit in May 2019 when $5,500 was taken during a search at a Hamilton Street barbershop.

Lehigh County Board of Commissioners voted Wednesday to seek state funding to study whether several municipal police departments in the county should be combined.

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said methamphetamine is “a real issue” around the city and beyond.

Ongoing investigations are happening, according to the Northampton Co. D.A., into smoke shops selling THC products with misleading or untrue labels.

Lehigh County Clerk of Elections Tim Benyo said his office contacted law enforcement after determining an organization turned in hundreds of faulty voter registration applications.

That hearing is set to be the first scene in what could be an ugly legal saga between Allentown officials.

Two Allentown officers alleged they faced retaliation after trying to report their colleagues to superiors.