web1_AP17058222852406.jpg

AP Exclusive: Accountants in Oscar mistake off the show

web1_115284990-4a7c11b86a9f43ba964a4f060e8888c0.jpg

Bomb threats at Jewish sites have Northeastern Pa. leaders concerned

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; Javari Gantt-Brown is accused of stabbing a man during a dispute over property in December.</p><p>Gantt-Brown, however, claims the incident was a matter of self-defense.</p><p>Gantt-Brown, of Hanover Township, appeared for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Donald Whittaker on Wednesday. Gantt-Brown, who identifies as a woman, waived her charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.</p><p>Police were waved down around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 by a group of individuals in the area of South Prospect and East Ridge street, near the city municipal building.</p><p>Police said an an argument broke out between Brown and victim Jermail Stanley, who tried to intervene in a scuffle over property near the fire department on East Ridge Street. Brown allegedly charged at Stanley with a knife. Stanley retreated backward but Brown charged again, allegedly stabbing Stanley, causing an injury.</p><p>Gantt-Brown told a reporter at her hearing Wednesday that she had several disputes with four other people leading up to the incident. She claimed that at one point, she was confronted by four people with knives as she attempted to remove her property from a residence on West Ridge Street.</p><p>&#8220;I feared for my life,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Gantt-Brown said the people continued to harass her as she worked to get the property out of the residence, and even had police officers at the nearby municipal building watch as she got the property.</p><p>Gantt-Brown said that&#8217;s when four people &#8212; two men and two woman &#8212; charged after her, and she defended herself with a pocket knife.</p><p>Fred Heller, a friend of Gantt-Brown&#8217;s, said he tried to pick her up that night. He said that she told him at the time that she was being threatened by people.</p><p>&#8220;She was so hysterical and scared,&#8221; Heller said.</p><p>When police took Brown into custody, she began to struggle. Officers were able to secure Brown against the patrol car until they attempted to put handcuffs on her. Brown then fled down a ramp which lead into the police station. It was there that officers were able to take her into custody.</p><p>Gantt-Brown is scheduled for a formal arraignment in the Luzerne County Courthouse at 10 a.m. on June 1. After hearing a brief argument from Gantt-Brown&#8217;s attorney Allyson Leigh Kacmarski, Whittaker reduced Gantt-Brown&#8217;s bail to $25,000 unsecured.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_Gantt-Brown-Javari.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gantt-Brown </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_Gantt-Brown-Javari.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gantt-Brown </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Woman accused of Nanticoke stabbing waives charges to county court