The following are the judicial opinions as published in the Lebanon County Legal Journal.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Gaven Jacob Looney
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 16:00
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Gaven Jacob Looney Criminal Action-Constitutional Law-Fourth Amendment-Search and Seizure-Omnibus Pretrial Motion-Suppression of Evidence-Wellness Check-Loss of Consciousness-Vehicle Occupants-Search Warrant-Consent to Search-Totality of the Circumstances-Third Party Consent-Luggage-Book Bag-Expectation of Privacy-Exigent Circumstances-Inevitable Discovery Doctrine Law enforcement was dispatched to conduct a wellness check of occupants of a vehicle located at an intersection. When law enforcement arrived, (2) males appeared […]
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jesse Noel Heisey
Thursday, October 22, 2026 14:12
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jesse Noel Heisey Criminal Action-Constitutional Law-Omnibus Pretrial Motion-Suppression of Evidence-Drug Related Charges-Vehicle Stop-Custodial Interrogation-Miranda Warnings-Voluntary or Spontaneous Utterance-Request for K-9 Unit-Detention for Investigation-Reasonable Suspicion Jesse Noel Heisey (“Defendant”) incurred multiple drug related charges after the vehicle he was operated was stopped due to invalid state inspection stickers. During the stop, the law enforcement officer noted that […]
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, v. Zachary Nagele
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 15:09
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, v. Zachary Nagele Criminal Action-Constitutional Law-Simple Assault-Terroristic Threats-Firearm Pointed at Victims-Omnibus Pretrial Motion-Suppression of Evidence-Miranda Warnings-Custodial Interrogation-Fruit of the Poisonous Tree-Warrantless Vehicle Search-Public Safety Doctrine-Inevitable Discovery Doctrine Zachary Nagele (“Defendant”) incurred multiple charges including Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License, Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault and Harassment relating to an incident in which it is alleged […]
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, v. Miguel Cruz
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 15:34
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, v. Miguel Cruz Criminal Action-Law-Supervision-Violation-Sentencing Authority-Act 44-Techical Violation-Discretion at Re-Sentencing Miguel Cruz (“Defendant”) was sentenced to probation under a plea agreement relating to convictions involving his possession of drugs inside of the Lebanon County Correctional Facility. Following violations of probation including multiple failed urine drug screens and failure to maintain employment, Defendant asserted that the Court lacked […]
Kimberly M. Frederick, v. Willard R. Frederick, Jr.,
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 14:21
Kimberly M. Frederick, v. Willard R. Frederick, Jr., Civil Action-Family Law-Support-Spousal Support-Temporary Nature-Duration of Award-Amount of Award-Factor Supporting Deviation-Guideline Support Amount-Earning Capacity The parties married in 1986 and separated in 2017 with Kimberly M. Frederick (“Wife”) filing a Complaint for Spousal Support on May 1, 2019. Following establishment of an order in the amount of $1,500.00 per month, Petitions for […]
Ninkovich, LLC, v. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 15:12
Ninkovich, LLC, v. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Civil Action-Administrative Law-Liquor License-Safekeeping-Failure to Act-Revocation-De Novo Review-Nunc Pro Tunc Relief On July 18, 2018, a liquor license held by Ninkovich, LLC, (“Appellant”) was accepted for safekeeping for a statutory two (2) year period under 47 P.S. § 4-474.1 by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (“LCB”). Appellant was notified by the LCB that […]
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Ryan Gibson Stewart
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 15:10
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Ryan Gibson Stewart Criminal Action-Law-Writ of Habeas Corpus-In Custody-Bail-Conditions-Timeliness-Delay-Waiver of Preliminary Hearing Ryan Gibson Stewart (“Defendant”), who was a teacher with the Northern Lebanon School District, was charged with one (1) count each of Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Dissemination of Explicit Sexual Materials to Minors and Corruption of Minors relating to allegations that he sent […]
Heidelberg Township, v. Heidelberg Township Zoning Hearing Board
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 14:47
Heidelberg Township, v. Heidelberg Township Zoning Hearing Board Civil Action-Property Law-Constitutional Law-Zoning-Variance-Single Dwelling Residence-AirBnB-Appeal-Scope of Review-Substantial Evidence-Unnecessary Hardship Heidelberg Township (“Township”) appealed the decision of the Heidelberg Township Zoning Hearing Board (“Zoning Hearing Board”) that approved an application for variance filed by Clinton Martin (“Martin”), who owns a property containing a single family dwelling unit. Martin sought permission to use […]
Michael Diehl, v. Markis A. Ratcliffe
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 12:44
Michael Diehl, v. Markis A. Ratcliffe Civil Action-Law-Motor Vehicle Accident-Complaint-Discovery Upon Plaintiff-Failure to Respond-Motion for Sanctions-Pa.R.C.P. Rule 4019-Dismissal of Action-Extreme Circumstances-Willful-Prejudice-Motion for Summary Judgment-Completion of Discovery Michael Diehl (“Plaintiff”) filed a Complaint on November 16, 2022 seeking recovery for damages following a motor vehicle accident in which he was involved with Markis A. Ratcliffe (“Defendant”) on December 9, 2020. On […]
In Re: Six Star Realty, Inc.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 14:37
In Re: Six Star Realty, Inc. Civil Action-Business Law-Dissolution-Domestic Corporation-Real Estate Brokerage Firm-Receipt of Escrow Funds-Disposition-Efforts to Locate Parties-Good Faith Six Star Realty, Inc. (“Six Star”), which is a Pennsylvania domestic business corporation operated as a real estate brokerage firm, filed a Petition for Court Intervention Regarding Outstanding Escrow Funds. The Petition was filed on the basis that it ceased […]