Criminal Justice

A grand jury has indicted a man who was already charged in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, allowing prosecutors to skip a planned week-long preliminary hearing that was set for late June.

Primary candidates for Northampton County judge, Republican Nancy Aaroe and Democrat Brian Panella, secured their parties' nominations and will face off for the seat in November.

Gavin Holihan, the uncontested candidate for Lehigh County district attorney, has been endorsed by incumbent Republican Jim Martin and Democratic County Executive Phil Armstrong, among others.

Eric Schwab was arrested Monday on forgery charges. He's now facing additional charges brought forward Thursday by Northampton County DA Terry Houck.

Senior Judge Thomas Munley would not agree Monday to let police officer Johnathan Miklich regain his firearms if he's not cleared to work. Miklich is under investigation after his wife and ex-girlfriend sought protection-from-abuse orders in Northampton County Court.

Lehigh used its HawkWatch alert system Sunday to inform the campus community of events as they were happening.

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio is working to determine the identity of skeletal remains discovered by hikers in Canal Park in Allentown in April 1991. Forensic analysis has shown the remains to be an African-American male, aged 25-35 at time of death, who grew up in the South.

Stephen Baratta spent more than $115,000 in his bid for Northampton County district attorney, not including in-kind contributions of nearly $50,000. Incumbent Terry Houck raised nearly $100,000, according to campaign finance reports.

Allentown police said they tried to stop the group of off-road vehicles near Fourth and Gordon streets on April 27.

A proposal to establish a one-year pilot program for EMTs and mental health specialists to respond to some 911 calls could be on November ballots if the Allentown City Council doesn't approve it.

Lehigh Valley Anti-Trafficking Week, a collective effort to address the issue of human trafficking and give voices to survivors, will have a week of events to raise awareness in the local community.

The settlement includes a controversial confidentiality clause, criticized for discouraging reporting. The complainant, who remains anonymous, alleges Vereb made inappropriate comments during her brief tenure.

The crash occurred Thursday morning on Union Boulevard, at Jerome Street, in Allentown. Police say they are continuing to investigate and will release more information once an arrest is made.

The incident occurred following the conclusion of a funeral service, as community members were departing the premises.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office said an 85-year-old man was the victim in a hit-and-run on Union Boulevard on Allentown's east side. The man died at the scene.

An attempted-homicide charge against Ethan Bastien was upgraded to criminal homicide when Sian Cartagena died days after police allege he shot her.

Sian Cartagena’s death is the 16th homicide in Allentown this year and the second in less than two weeks, according to authorities.

State authorities will investigate the matter, and borough lawyers have been assigned to coordinate in the efforts.

A Northampton County judge handed down a five- to 10-year sentence for Christopher Ferrante, who was convicted of giving drugs to a former Pen Argyl wrestler shortly before his overdose death.

Pennsylvania State Police provided an inventory of items seized from the Railroad Street house where the bodies of 39-year-old Rosalyn Glass and her 16-year-old daughter Rianna were found Sept. 14.

A Berks County man convicted of homicide by vehicle in a fatal crash more than two years ago in Upper Macungie Township has been sentenced to 6 to 15 years in prison.

32 year-old Craig Michael Bingert was convicted for his role in the Jan. 6 attacks. He is sentenced to 96 months in prison, followed by supervised release, and a $2,000 fine.