Month: May 2025

May 7—WILKES-BARRE — As fast as Attorney Ellen M. Granahan requested bail be set for her teenage client, James Alberto Jr., Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough quickly denied.

Alberto Jr., 17, was before Vough on Wednesday for his monthly review hearing as he is jailed in an adult prison, the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, while facing charges he shot a 14-year-old boy in a drive-by shooting in Nanticoke nearly two years ago.

“Everything going good? Going to classes, getting outside, taking showers?” Vough asked.

“Yes, sir,” Alberto said.

The issue of Alberto not able to take showers was an issue in March as the county prison was routinely on lockdown that month.

Alberto is to remain jailed at the county prison as Assistant District Attorney Julian Truskowski said there remains no room at five juvenile detention centers in Pennsylvania and no space at a juvenile detention facility in Ohio.

Before Alberto is scheduled for trial on charges of criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, arson, reckless burning, receiving stolen property and possessing a firearm by a minor, Vough is to entertain arguments by Granahan to transfer the case to juvenile court.

Alberto, then 16, was charged by the Pennsylvania State Police at Wilkes-Barre for the drive-by shooting in the area of West Green and Maple streets, Nanticoke, on July 21, 2023. A 14-year-old boy suffered wounds to his head and ankle.

Alberto was a passenger in a stolen Hyundai when he leaned out the window and allegedly fired multiple shots at the teenage boy.

The driver of the Hyundai, John Carl Pearce IV., 18, pled guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, arson, theft and criminal conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and was sentenced to five-to-10 years in state prison.

After the shooting, Alberto and Pearce stole a 2013 Ford F150 truck from…

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On Tuesday at 4:12 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 4:30 p.m. for Broome, Cortland and Tioga counties.

The storms could bring quarter-sized hail (1 inch) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

“At 4:12 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Richford, or 7 miles southwest of Marathon, moving north at 25 mph,” according to the weather service. “Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.”

Locations impacted by the warning include Virgil, Marathon, Lapeer, Hunts Corners and Center Lisle.

The weather service states, “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”

Staying safe as lightning approaches: Expert advice

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
• Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
• Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming…

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