Criminal Justice

Monday’s bomb threat came less than a week after another hoax, according to Allentown police.

The driver — only identified Friday as a 51-year-old man from Bethlehem — was taken to a local hospital after the crash, authorities said.

Lehigh County Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi is the only defendant in an alleged interstate marijuana ring whom authorities have publicly identified. He made his first public comments since being arrested Aug. 28 at his job at Bethlehem City Hall.

The controller's report — published in mid-July — says the Guardian ad Litem program in Lehigh County lacks centralization, oversight and consistency in billing and compensation. That undermines "public trust in child welfare proceedings," he said.

The case against Matthew Wolfe relied heavily on the expert testimony of Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen, the former Lehigh Valley Health Network physician being sued for alleged medical child abuse misdiagnoses. With her credibility under scrutiny, prosecutors agreed to cut years off Wolf's sentence.

Tracy and Joshua Dechant, charged with attempting to starve their teen sons to death, have 60 days to find a defense lawyer, a judge said.

John Derwin Bradley of Schnecksville was sentenced Thursday for the 2023 murder of a North Catasauqua mother and daughter and the aggravated assault of a juvenile who was seriously injured in a car crash after Bradley fled the scene with her in the vehicle.

Officials said having Argon around helps keep passengers at ease and safe from potential danger, while also serving as an asset upon request for other area authorities.

State Police, municipal police officers and members of the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office took part in virtual reality training at the Jane Scheller-Wayne Woodman Community Service Center at Lehigh Carbon Community College on Wednesday.

City officials last week were not able to comment if other city employees were currently subjects of the investigation following the arrest of Zachary Cole-Borghi.

The Ohio State wrestler was hospitalized after being shot during a reported robbery attempt Friday in Columbus, Ohio. Sasso, a Nazareth Area High School alum, is a two-time PIAA state champion wrestler.

Multiple news outlets are reporting Sasso was shot Friday night near the Ohio State University campus. He's a three-time All-American wrestler and two-time PIAA state champion from Nazareth Area High School.

Three suspects from two cases have been charged with scamming older Pennsylvanians; one of the victims is from Lehigh County. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office is offering tips on recognizing and fighting scams.

Roger Kornfeind will serve up to 10 years in state prison after defrauding 88 victims of more than $1.5 million over nearly four years.

Bethlehem City Council unanimously approved BPD to join other Lehigh County agencies to combat crime through the use of shared investigative data.

The 29 arrests Bethlehem Police made during Musikfest were a slight increase from last year's event, the department reported on Tuesday.

Robert Bowen, 53, of Bethlehem, has been charged with involvement in the detonation of at least four other explosive devices in the city. Federal and local agents searched his Wyandotte Street home earlier this month. They say they found bomb-making materials, grenades, drugs and a homemade gun.

State law gives Northampton County Republicans a little over a week to find a candidate willing to take on Democrat Stephen Baratta in a high-profile race for district attorney.

On Sunday, the Allentown Police Department premiered a new color scheme for its vehicles, featuring a black-and-white aesthetic that leaders say is meant to convey recognition and authority.

Easton City Councilwoman Taiba Sultana made her first appearance since her arrest for accusations of simple assault and harassment in a domestic violence case.

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was justified when he shot at a 47-year-old Allentown man who allegedly drove at the trooper, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

Residents near the area had been asked to shelter in place.