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DOC hearing on SCI-Retreat closure set for Thursday

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Kingston homicide suspect seeks to suppress statements

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Plains Township man called by a Luzerne County judge <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/758358/judge-plains-twp-dui-defendant-a-clear-and-present-danger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&#8220;a clear and present danger</a> to the community&#8221; after getting hit with multiple DUI related offenses has been sentenced to state prison.</p><p>Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. sentenced John Thomas Tomshack, 53, of West Bergh Street, to three-to-eight years in state prison followed by two years probation.</p><p>Tomshack was sentenced Tuesday, several days after Sklarosky continued the proceeding to review if he is eligible for the State Intermediate Punishment Program, a special program designed for low-level offenders whose crimes were motivated by addiction. Those sentenced to SIP must serve two years with at least seven months in a state prison.</p><p>At last week&#8217;s proceeding, Sklarosky noted Tomshack had nine drunken driving convictions in his life.</p><p>Tomshack requested SIP but was not awarded the program. He acknowledged his alcohol addiction and pledged to better himself fearing he would injure or kill someone.</p><p>Tomshack was sentenced on three separate counts of driving under the influence, separate counts of accidents involving damage to a vehicle and property and driving with a suspended license and being a habitual offender.</p><p>Court records say Tomshack was charged by state police and police in Plains Township and Wilkes-Barre on separate drunken driving offenses from August 2018 to February. </p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_John-Tomshack-10092019-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tomshack </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_John-Tomshack-10092019-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tomshack </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

DUI defendant called ‘a clear and present danger’ sentenced