Woody Sounds Off 
Frankness Of Woody Guthrie Comes Across In New Play

205 Cases Involving `officer' At Risk 
A Veteran Harveys Lake Police Officer's Lack Of Certification Raises Questions
For Prosecutors And Defense Lawyers.

By NANCY RUVALCABA nruvalca@leader.net
 Saturday, January 25, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





TUNKHANNOCK - Wyoming County officials have turned to television to help in
their search for convicted pharmacist Michael Kerkowski, who fled the area in
May before his sentencing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police Chief David Ide and Wyoming County District Attorney George
Skumanick contacted the FOX TV show ``America's Most Wanted'' in mid-November
to help investigators find Kerkowski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The program, which airs nationwide, profiles fugitives in hopes the public
calls in with tips to help find them. Representatives of the show were in
Wyoming County this week to gather information on Kerkowski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Like any case we have, we take it very seriously,'' Skumanick said. The
difference is that this case affected a large number of people in the county,
he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kerkowski, the former owner of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Eaton
Township, was convicted last year on multiple charges including illegal
dispensation of a controlled substance, insurance fraud and welfare fraud. The
convictions stem from charges brought after one of his former customers,
Joseph Mekuta, 38, of Tunkhannock, died of a drug overdose. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``You have to be a really bad person to be one of `America's Most Wanted,'
'' said Kim Newport, a spokesperson for the television show. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Newport said an air date has not been set for the Kerkowski segment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Skumanick has called Kerkowski, 38, a major drug dealer and said he had
338,000 pills in his possession when he was arrested. He said many of those
who received pills from Kerkowski initially did so to treat an injury, but
became addicted to painkillers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Skumanick said Kerkowski acquired up to $3 million by selling medication
illegally. ``The missing pills ... were valued at $1.9 million,'' Skumanick
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Throughout the trial Kerkowski was described by the prosecutors as
extremely arrogant and greedy and at the date of his sentencing, May 14, 2002,
Kerkowski simply did not show up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The pharmacist abandoned his Hunlock Creek home with his girlfriend, Tammy
Lynn Fassett, 37. They were last seen a week before his scheduled sentencing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Depending on the circumstances of Fassett's disappearance she could face
charges, but authorities do not believe she aided Kerkowski in selling or
buying the pills, Skumanick said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As for the possible whereabouts of Kerkowski, Skumanick said, ``Like I've
said many times, I think he's somewhere south and warm.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`america's Most Wanted' Wyoming County Fugitive To Get Air Time Convicted Pharmacist Michael Kerkowski Fled Before Sentencing