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Happy birthday to Timmy Seriani!

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Wyoming Seminary participates in Angel Tree Program

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Denied.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas in a brief hearing Wednesday ruled against a motion that would have reduced the bail and likely freed alleged hit-and-run suspect and repeat DUI offender Michael Scavone, 50, who stood silently in shackles during testimony.</p><p>Citing Scavone&#8217;s lengthy criminal history, District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, lead prosecutor in the case, said Scavone poses a &#8220;very serious risk of hurting another individual&#8221; if released and urged Lupas to deny the motion.</p><p>Scavone, 50, of Harveys Lake, is awaiting trial on charges of homicide by vehicle while under the influence, along with seven other related offenses.</p><p>Scavone is accused of killing 31-year-old Paula Jones on June 7 in a fatal hit-and-run crash as the triathlete from Factoryville jogged along Lakeside Drive in Harveys Lake.</p><p>Scavone had told investigators he spent the day drinking beer and Yukon Jack liqueur and didn&#8217;t know how much he&#8217;d had to drink. An analysis later revealed Scavone had a blood-alcohol level of .214 two hours after the fatal crash.</p><p>A motion filed earlier this month by defense attorney John Pike sought to have Scavone&#8217;s bail reduced from $400,000 to $125,000, which Scavone could afford.</p><p>Pike wrote in the motion that Scavone is needed at home to provide care for his 75-year-old mother, Rosemary Scavone.</p><p>Rosemary Scavone, speaking softly and seated in a chair during testimony Wednesday, told the court her son would &#8220;carry her to the bathroom&#8221; among other assistance he had provided.</p><p>Rosemary Scavone testified that she suffers from spinal, leg and cardiac issues and sees three doctors every two months.</p><p>&#8220;No one else is available for care,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Lupas, however, said there were &#8220;other ways to care for (Rosemary Scavone&#8217;s) needs other than releasing the defendant.&#8221;</p><p>In court filings, Pike also wrote that Michael Scavone suffers from kidney cancer and requires regular treatments to prevent the loss of his remaining kidney. Scavone also suffers from fibromyalgia, a disorder that can prompt chronic muscle pain and sleep loss, according to the filing.</p><p>&#8220;Prisons have physicians,&#8221; Lupas said, adding that Scavone is able to be transferred if medical emergencies arise.</p><p>The case is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 29.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_scavone01-6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scavone </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_scavone01-6.jpg</photo0><caption0>Scavone </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Updated: Judge quashes motion to reduce Michael Scavone’s bail