Commonwealth v. Hunter
Mar 16, 2012OUTCOME: Negotiated Plea
CHARGES: Theft by Deception(F3); Theft by Deception(F3), Theft by Failure to Make Req'd Dispo (F3), DUI(M), DUI(M), DUI(M1). DISPOSITION: Misapplication of Entrusted Funds (M2), Misapplication of Entr ... usted Funds (M2), DUI(M), DUI(M), DUI(M1). NEWS PRINT: "Over eight months in 2010, the Glendon mechanic was caught three times driving drunk. And they weren't Robert E. Hunter's only crimes: That year, he was also ripping off two of his customers of thousands of dollars. If 2010 told Hunter's story, it would be one of drunkenness and theft. But he's hoping that his tale will instead become one of sobriety and redemption. On Friday, after long stays at a number of rehabs in Florida, the 50-year-old man was sentenced to 17 months to six years in state prison by a Northampton County judge who said she had to balance his wrongdoing with the positive steps he has since taken. "You've done a lot of good things since disposing of your cases," Judge Paula Roscioli told Hunter. "However, there has to be a price to be paid for your conduct prior to your treatment." Hunter pleaded guilty in three drunken-driving cases: in April 2010 in Easton, in June and November 2010 in Palmer Township. He also admitted to two counts of misapplying entrusted property. One of his victims, Paige Foley, said Hunter received a check for $6,889 to repair her vehicle after an accident, but never did the work. The other, Donna Thomas, said he offered to sell her car for scrap, got the title transferred to him, then stopped returning her calls. In court, Hunter wiped tears from his eyes as he talked to Roscioli about his time in Florida, where he first detoxed in a 30-day program, then continued with other treatment. Wanted on a warrant, he said he was picked up in January, waived extradition and has since been a team leader for a drug-and-alcohol support group in Northampton County Prison. "I was just a mixed-up person back then," Hunter said, adding there was "no excuse" for his crimes. "This man has made quite a bit of effort here to pull himself up by his bootstraps," defense attorney Kevin Santos said. Assistant District Attorney Michael Filingo said Hunter will owe more than $10,000 in restitution to his victims. Under the drunken-driving charges, Hunter will also be without a driver's license for years. "Hopefully, alcohol is behind you," Roscioli told him. "It has to be." " [email protected] 610-253-5751
