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Swag, supper and support offered at WB Area Harvest Festival

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Outdoor Corps honored for improvements at Seven Tubs Nature Area

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Swoyersville man who admitted to <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/557289/police-swoyersville-resident-arrested-after-break-in-to-fund-drug-habit" target="_blank">breaking into a home to finance a drug habit</a> has been sentenced to 24 months in a special court program designed for drug-related offenses.</p><p>Court records show Nicholas Bednar, 27, pleaded guilty in August to breaking into a home on Sycamore Drive in Swoyersville, stealing money and checks.</p><p>Bednar, an acquaintance of the property owner, broke into the residence twice when he knew it was unoccupied.</p><p>Bednar was sentenced Thursday by Luzerne County Judge David Lupas to the State Intermediate Punishment program.</p><p>State Intermediate Punishment, or SIP, is designed for those who have committed a drug-related offense. According to the <a href="http://www.cor.pa.gov/General%20Information/Pages/SIP.aspx" target="_blank">Department of Corrections</a>, the program consists of a flat sentencing of 24 months.</p><p>As per the program&#8217;s guidelines, Bednar will spend at least seven months in prison, including time in a therapeutic community and outpatient treatment.</p><p>The remaining balance of Bednar&#8217;s sentence will be spent in supervised community reintegration.</p><p>In addition, Lupas also ordered Bednar to pay restitution to William Buckman, the home&#8217;s owner, amounting to $6,800, plus $1,665 to the State Police lab.</p><p>Bednar must have no further contact with Buckman.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bednar </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_web1_BEDNAR-nicholas-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bednar </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Swoyersville man sentenced for break-ins