Criminal Justice

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.

Security officers searched multiple students Monday morning after finding them smoking in a bathroom during school hours, according to police.

The May shooting death of a man from Upper Mt. Bethel Township by his girlfriend was justified, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced charges June 29 against Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach for endangering the welfare of a child and failing to report suspected child abuse, both misdemeanors.

A freshman Philadelphia Democrat has set off a firestorm in Harrisburg by proposing a bill that would establish new mandatory minimum sentences — an approach much more in line with Republicans’ criminal justice platform than his own party’s.

Allentown Police Chief Glenn Granitz is stepping down and taking the same position at the West Reading Police Department.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said the incident began on Route 22 near the exit for Route 309 and Cedar Crest Blvd. when an adult male driving a white Toyota Corolla allegedly shot at a white car being driven by a woman.

Police chiefs from Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton gathered with community members on April 12 to discuss ways to build trust with local law enforcement after a year rocked by protests over police brutality.

Allentown officials are considering whether to invest in a multi-million dollar program that aims to curb city gun violence. Neighborhood advocates say it appears to have reduced shootings in some other major U.S. cities.

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WLVR’s Tyler Pratt recently spoke with Norberto, who is now home. He said the conditions and isolation at the jail in lockdown were dramatically worse than any of his previous experiences.

Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman is calling for reform to jail sentences of life without parole.

COVID-19 cases at Northampton and Lehigh County jails are dwindling after months of concern about high case numbers. But lockdowns will remain in place.

A Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court case is being called the first of its kind, challenging the fate of inmates serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.