Man, 75, Pleads to 20 Felonies Regarding Sexual Abuse of 4 Pre-Teens

An East Earl man pleaded no contest Thursday in Lancaster County Court to years of sexual abuse against four pre-teenagers.

David Stoltzfus Smucker, 75, pleaded to 20 felonies, including rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a chi...

Felon to State Prison for Stash of Firearms, Leading Police on Chase

A Conestoga Township man will serve up to 25 years in prison for having a stash of guns – while on bail for illegal possession of guns – and leading police on a vehicle chase this summer.

Brian Gainer, already a convicted felon, pleaded...

What is TikTok? What to Know about the 'Fastest-Growing' Social Media App

ADVISORY: We present this not as a criticism or endorsement of the app, but rather as a release of information so parents and children can be fully aware.

TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media apps, with more than half a billion users worldwide...

Woman Sentenced for Kicking, Stomping Pit Bull on Porch as Witness Recorded

A Lancaster woman who repeatedly kicked her dog will be under court supervision for nearly five years and surrender ownership of the dog, a Lancaster County judge ordered Thursday.

Ashley Gaston pleaded guilty to felony aggravated cruelty to an animal and ...

Convicted Sex Offender Jailed for Forcing Child to Play 'Game'

A Lancaster man will serve up to 15 years in prison for subjecting a pre-teen to sexual abuse, coercing the child with a “game.”

Christopher Feliciano recently pleaded guilty to rape, four other felonies, and related misdemeanors regard...

Man Charged with Homicide in Connection with Truck Robbery Death

A Lancaster County man is charged with stealing a man’s vehicle in Terre Hill last month and causing the vehicle owner to fatally fall when he tried to prevent the robbery.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kory Wardrop charged 21-year-old Javen ...

3 Jailed for Woman's Fatal Overdose, Including 'Friend' who Provided First 'Try'

Three people have been sentenced in Lancaster County Court for providing fentanyl-laced heroin to a woman who died – apparently using heroin for the first time.

Investigators discovered that the 30-year-old victim had wanted to “try&...

Fentanyl-Impaired Driver Sentenced for Wrong-Way Crash that Injured Woman, Daughter

A Columbia woman will serve up to a decade in prison for being under the influence of methamphetamine and fentanyl when she caused a vehicle crash that seriously injured a woman and her 11-year-old daughter.

Ardis Goldsborough was driving entirely in the o...

What are the Most Common Causes of Vehicle Crashes in Lancaster County?

Age, impairment, and lack of seatbelts were the most common factors in deadly vehicle crashes in Lancaster County over five recent years, according to PennDOT.

PennDOT reviewed 28,751 crashes reported in Lancaster County between 2014 and 2018 for cause fac...

Man who Served 20 Years for Sexual Abuse Back in Prison for Trying to Contact Victim

A convicted child rapist who served 20 years is headed back to state prison – for trying to contact a victim and two children weeks after completing the prison term.

Peter J. Shelley was sentenced in 1999 to 10 to 20 years (plus 10 years’ probation) for nu...

Dealer Jailed up to 15 Years for Selling Fentanyl that Killed West Lampeter Woman

A Lancaster man will serve up to 15 years for selling heroin bags – which actually contained pure fentanyl – to a West Lampeter Township woman who fatally overdosed.

James Wueschinski, 27, recently pleaded guilty to felony drug delivery resulting in death ...

C.A.S.E. Unveils New Website, Window Display at Lancaster County Building

Lancaster County Campaign Against Sexual Exploitation of Children (CASE) recently launched a new look online while also unveiling a revamped window display at the front of Lancaster County’s Government Center.

The window display fits CASE&rsq...

Drug Task Force Charges Head of Cocaine Trafficking 'Enterprise'

The Lancaster County Drug Task Force arrested an upper-level dealer after a lengthy investigation that uncovered nearly a kilogram of cocaine, quantities of heroin and cash, and stolen handguns.

Detectives called Jordan Luis Morales’ trafficking an “enterp...

Fentanyl Dealer who Tried to Flush Stash Jailed up to 10 Years

A Lititz man will serve up to a decade in prison for dealing fentanyl and cocaine – despite his efforts to flush the drugs when detectives raided his apartment.

Miguel Vializ was convicted at a nonjury trial in August of two felony drug-dealing c...

'New Beginning': Victims of Sexual Assaults Watch as Serial Rapist is Jailed Decades

A sentencing judge called serial rapist Tony Cruz a “fraud” for continuing to deny his guilt and accuse the victims of making false allegations.

A survivor’s mother called Cruz a “monster” for stealing the innocence from six girls who were abused as pre-te...

VERDICT: Lancaster Man Guilty of Sexual Abuse at City Apartment; Sentencing Upcoming

A Lancaster man was recently convicted of all counts regarding sexual abuse of a pre-teen girl several years ago at a city apartment.

Teddy Bernard, 50, will be sentenced in January following a background investigation.

A local jury deliberated for several ...

Ephrata Man Jailed for Setting his own House Ablaze, Prompting Emergency Rescue

An Ephrata man will serve at least nine years in prison for setting fire to his own house – risking the lives of first responders who rescued him from a bedroom.

Michael T. Matthews will serve 9 to 27 years in prison for felony aggravated arson a...

VERDICT: Man on Probation for Child's Drowning Now Convicted of Raping 2 Girls

A Manheim Township man already serving a probation term regarding his daughter’s death was convicted this week in Lancaster County Court of raping two pre-teen girls.

A local jury convicted 47-year-old Geoffrey Bussard of all counts Wednesday aft...

Judge: Property, Weapons Ban for Man who Threatened Shooting at Retirement Home

A New Holland man was sentenced to three years of probation – and a property ban - for threatening to bring a gun to a local retirement community after he was denied volunteer work at the facility.

Mark Wingerd, 66, was convicted at trial last mo...

'I Finally Feel Free Now': Girl's Abuser Jailed up to 25 Years

An Akron man will serve up to 25 years in prison for years of sexual abuse against a girl.

Shamgar Itwaru, 43, pleaded guilty in August to eight felonies and two misdemeanors regarding the abuse between 2012 and 2018.

On Monday, Lancaster County Judge Jeffe...

Man Charged with Stabbing 3 People on Coach Bus in Lancaster County

A man is charged with stabbing three people Monday night inside a coach bus on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Rapho Township.

Pennsylvania State Police charged 31-year-old Philip Giletto with several offenses, including two counts of attempted homicide, rega...

Drug Task Force Offers Insight to Educators on Meth, Fentanyl, Marijuana Trends

The drug trafficking landscape is always evolving, as many drug dealers respond like legitimate entrepreneurs to supply and demand trends to maximize their profits.

The Lancaster County Drug Task Force tracks that changing climate while also paying attenti...

GUILTY: Man Convicted of Pointing Gun at Motorist During Lane Change at Routes 72-283

A Manheim man was convicted at trial this week of pointing a gun at a motorist when he believed the victim changed lanes too closely behind him last year in Manheim Township.

Ronald Shirley Jr., 30, was found guilty of three misdemeanors following a nonjur...

DA’s Office Distributes over 7K Medication Lockboxes as Project Winds Down

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office is distributing its last remaining prescription medication lockboxes – a giveaway initiative aimed at educating residents and raising awareness of prescription drug abuse.

Sarah Fritz, com...

VERDICT: Woman Guilty of Leaving Toddler in Running Bath Water; Girl Sustained Brain Injury

A Lancaster woman was convicted this week of causing her daughter’s permanent injuries when the child nearly drowned in a bathtub in 2008 – her mother having left her alone to smoke marijuana.

A Lancaster County jury convicted 32-year-o...

Man, 71, Jailed at Least a Decade for Years of Sexual Abuse of Girl

A Manheim Township man will serve at least a decade in prison for years of sexual abuse of a pre-teenage girl.

Thomas Irwin, 71, recently pleaded guilty in Lancaster County Court to rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and several other felonies.

La...

Citizen’s Online Chat Leads Police to 34YO Man who Tried to Meet ‘Girl’ for Sex

A Delaware man is charged with arranging to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex, then driving to Lancaster County for the meeting to find a man had posed online as the girl.

Pennsylvania State Police charged 34-year-old Michael David Towner with nine felonies ...

Jury Deliberates 15 Minutes to Convict Man of Threatening to Stab his Probation Officer

A Columbia man was convicted this week in Lancaster County Court of threatening to stab his probation officer.

A local jury deliberated about 15 minutes before convicting 34-year-old Steven L. Andrews Jr. of misdemeanor terroristic threats.

Assistant Distri...

Fugitive Fentanyl Dealer Caught in Philly – Months after he Skipped Trial, Sentencing

A Lancaster-based heroin dealer who was on the lam since his April trial was captured Friday in Philadelphia.

Angel “Fly” Galarza Sr. appeared Monday in Lancaster County Court when Judge David Ashworth formally imposed the sentence he o...

Marietta Couple Sentenced for Beating Girl, Depriving her of Food and Bathroom

A Marietta couple was sentenced this week to serve state prison sentences for a sequence of abuse and torture of a pre-teenage girl who was deprived of food and bathroom.

Kenneth Greenly III and Jodie Hudson-Greenly were convicted in July of also having th...

Man Guilty of Threat to Bring Gun after Denied Volunteer Work at Retirement Home

A New Holland man was recently convicted of threatening to bring a gun to a local retirement community and shoot after he was denied volunteer work at the facility.

A Lancaster County jury deliberated about 20 minutes before finding 66-year-old Mark Winger...

Fentanyl Dealer Jailed up to 15 Years for Selling Fatal Batch to Conestoga Township Man

A Lancaster man will serve up to 15 years in prison for providing a fentanyl-laced heroin batch that caused a Conestoga Township man’s death.

Jose O. Morillo, 30, had pleaded guilty to felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death and crimina...

County Offices will be closed on Tuesday December 24th at noon for the Christmas Holiday.

Offices will reopen on Thursday December 26th at 8:30 AM

County Commissioners hold evening meeting for proposed 2020 budget

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioner held their annual evening meeting on November 26, 2019 for the purpose of reviewing the 2020 proposed budget.

Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week

At this morning's Commissioners' Public Meeting, the Board presented a Proclamation for Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week (November 16-24, 2019) and recognized that the education and awareness of hunger and homelessness in Lancaster County are important ...

Ribbon Cutting for the Conoy 1 Bridge

The Board of Commissioners was happy to dedicate the new Conoy 1 bridge on Stonemill Drive in West Donegal Township yesterday, November 20, 2019.

The new concrete beam bridge replaces the previous structurally deficient bridge over the Conoy Creek.

This pre...