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Cromer guilty of false rape accusations against troopers

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Kingston Historical Society offers exhibit preview on May 1

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Still recovering from being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene nearly three months ago, 78-year-old Harold Rinehimer was smiling as he positioned himself behind the alleged driver, John Charles Gajewski, on Wednesday.</p><p>Gajewski, 64, of Hill Street, Nanticoke, was charged by Nanticoke police with driving away after striking Rinehimer in the 100 block of South Market Street on Jan. 20.</p><p>Gajewski appeared in Luzerne County Central Court, where he waived a single count of accidents involving personal injury to county court.</p><p>Rinehimer suffered head and facial injuries, and serious injuries to his legs, spine and ribs, police said, while a large laceration on his scalp continues to heal.</p><p>Police said surveillance cameras showed Rinehimer being thrown into the air and Gajewski swerving his vehicle into oncoming traffic, indicating he was aware he struck a pedestrian.</p><p>Gajewski initially denied he was involved but later admitted he struck Rinehimer, court records say.</p><p>Police said they located a 2016 Malibu with passenger-side damage parked near Gajewski&#8217;s residence several days after the incident.</p><p>Gajewski claimed his vehicle was struck by another vehicle weeks earlier in the parking lot of a food market in Wilkes-Barre but later recanted, telling police he was at Larry&#8217;s Pizza consuming eight to 10 cans of beer during his stay, court records say.</p><p>Gajewski allegedly told police he left Larry&#8217;s and drove on South Market Street on his way home.</p><p>Police in court records say they found Rinehimer&#8217;s bodily fluids on Gajewski&#8217;s vehicle.</p><p>Prosecutors withdrew four traffic summary offenses against Gajewski.</p><p>During the brief proceeding before District Judge Joseph Halesey, Rinehimer &#8212; using a walker &#8212; stood behind Gajewski. Needing to move closer to his attorney, Nanda Palissery, Gajewski with a grim face looked and nodded his head at Rinehimer.</p><p>Gajewski remains free on $100,000 unsecured bail.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_John-Charles-Gajewski.cmyk-1-1-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gajewski </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_John-Charles-Gajewski.cmyk-1-1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gajewski </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Nanticoke man waives hearing on hit-run charges