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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Freeland man who skipped a sentencing hearing in August because he went on vacation learned Friday he will be sent to state prison.</p><p>Dominic Lella, 24, of South Street, was scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 3 after he pleaded guilty to firing a round from a handgun at the feet of John Dering on Sabol Street, Freeland, on Sept. 13, 2017. Lella and Dering were arguing about a woman, court records say.</p><p>When Lella didn&#8217;t appear to be sentenced in August, Luzerne County Judge Michael Vough issued a bench warrant for his arrest.</p><p>Lella was eventually captured and jailed at the county lockup.</p><p>When he appeared before Vough on Friday, the judge asked him where he was in August.</p><p>&#8220;I went on vacation,&#8221; Lella said.</p><p>&#8220;I hope you enjoyed it because it will be the last vacation for you in awhile,&#8221; the judge told Lella.</p><p>He was sentenced to 16 to 32 months in state prison on charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest.</p><p>Freeland police said Lella during the argument with Dering reached into his pants, pulled out a handgun and fired a round at Dering&#8217;s feet.</p><p>Lella then fled the area.</p><p>A woman entering a nearby Dollar General store witnessed the shooting. </p><p>A day later, an officer spotted Lella on South Street in Freeland.</p><p>When the officer made contact with Lella, he told the officer, &#8220;(Expletive) you, I don&#8217;t need to talk to you about nothing. You piece of (expletive),&#8221; court records state.</p><p>Lella ran from police, initiating a chase that ended with his capture on Washington Street.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Freeland man skipped sentencing date for vacation