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Hazleton police announce 3 arrests in raid of alleged drug trafficking ring

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Misericordia and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital partner to offer education discounts to nurses

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Attorneys for an alleged drunk driver accused of running down a jogger and fleeing the scene are seeking to suppress results of a blood test taken after the fatal crash.</p><p>Michael J. Scavone, 51, of Harveys Lake, is charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related offenses after police say he struck and killed 31-year-old Paula Jones, of Factoryville, as she jogged along Lakeside Driver last summer.</p><p>A trio of public defenders representing Scavone filed a motion Friday seeking to suppress evidence of Scavone&#8217;s blood test results, which police allege revealed a blood-alcohol level of .214.</p><p>Attorneys Ferris Webby, Jessica D. Larkin and Megan Anderson cite a state law that requires a defendant&#8217;s blood or breath to be tested &#8220;within two hours after the individual has driven, operated or been in actual physical control of the movement of the vehicle.&#8221;</p><p>The attorneys wrote that prosecutors can&#8217;t establish an exact time when Scavone was behind the wheel on the day of the accident, but argue his blood was collected at 8:22 p.m., 2 hours and 11 minutes after the first 911 call reporting a &#8220;loud bump&#8221; was recorded.</p><p>Scavone, a repeat DUI offender, is <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/538538/harveys-lake-fatal-hit-and-run-suspect-petitions-court-for-release-on-nominal-bail" target="_blank">currently seeking release</a> from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, where he has been held since his June 12 arrest.</p><p>In a petition filed by Webby, Larkin and Anderson earlier this week, the attorneys cite a state law that says any defendant held in pre-trial incarceration for more than 180 days is entitled to immediate release on nominal bail.</p><p>According to the court filing, Scavone&#8217;s attorneys argue he has been jailed for a total of 307 days and request his release on a reduced bail amount. A hearing on the matter is slated for May 13, according to court documents filed Friday.</p><p>Two attempts to have Scavone&#8217;s $400,000 bail reduced have fallen short.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/500061/judge-quashes-motion-to-reduce-michael-scavones-bail" target="_blank">rejected a bid</a> in December and a second attempt was <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/524526/bail-reduction-bid-withdrawn-trial-rescheduled-for-harveys-lake-man-accused-of-running-down-jogger" target="_blank">withdrawn in a March 24 pre-trial conference.</a></p><p>Scavone is set to stand trial on the charges July 11.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Scavone </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_scavone01-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Scavone </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader file photo </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>

Michael Scavone’s attorneys seek to quash blood alcohol test results