HARRISBURG—Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that an assistant marching band director at Central Dauphin High School has been charged with distributing and possessing child pornography after investigators found at least 50 files containing images of child pornography in his home. He has since been fired from his position.

“The defendant was trusted by his students and community while he also privately exploited children. Today’s arrest is another step towards a safer Commonwealth,” said AG Shapiro. “We will continue to work to protect children and hold those who hurt them accountable.”

Stephen Gugoff, 39, was arrested on Sunday, June 13. The charges came following the search of his home where agents found at least 50 files containing images of child sexual abuse on electronic devices in his home.

The investigation began after an officer with the Derry Township Police Department discovered an Internet Protocol (IP) address sharing files of child pornography on a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. After obtaining an administrative subpoena based on the IP address for the source of the files, it was determined that the individual who the files were downloaded from was located at Gugoff’s address in Harrisburg.

Gugoff is being charged with 25 counts of disseminating images of child pornography, and 50 counts of possessing those same images. This case is being prosecuted by the Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones. All charges are accusations, and the defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) today released the following statement after co-sponsoring a resolution that would require estimates of the inflationary impacts that all future spending and tax bills would have on low and middle-income families:

“Having grown up poor, I learned very early on in life the value of a dollar. Now, with the prices of everyday goods and services on the rise due to the Biden administration’s economic policies, Americans are spending more and getting less. The very people that President Biden professes to want to help are the ones who are feeling the strain of his policies the most. Every American deserves to know how this administration’s big government spending will impact their lives.”

BACKGROUND:

H. Res. 468, introduced by Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN), reads:

“A detailed analytical statement as to whether, and the extent to which, the increased budget authority, outlays, or revenue produced by the enactment of such bill or joint resolution into law may have an inflationary impact on prices and costs in the operation of the national economy. Such statement shall also include whether, and the extent to which, the inflationary impact would affect the purchasing power of low and middle-income families.”

Photo: Marc Schefsky (middle back row) with the rest of the WASD school board members

On Monday, retiring Lycoming County Common Pleas Court Judge Marc Lovecchio imposed an ARD Program sentence on Marc Schefsky, former WASD school board member who was charged with misedemeanor false swearing for voting in the November election.

Based on information obtained from Philadelphia attorney Wana Saadzoi, Esq. “The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program” is considered a diversionary or “first time offender” program, designed to divert first time offenders for different charges like DUI in PA, PA Drug Charges, or other crimes from entering the criminal justice system.

When a first time offender is accepted into the ARD program, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania suspends the charges against the offender, but requires that certain court-ordered conditions are followed.

These conditions may included drug and alcohol counseling, community service, restitution, etc. Similar to a probationary program, the ARD program requires a period of supervision.

Benefits of the Pennsylvania ARD Program

There are several key benefits to being accepted into the ARD program, the biggest being avoidance of jail time and not being labeled as a convicted criminal, but also possible avoidance of losing a driver’s license, and also avoiding costly and time consuming legal proceedings, court dates and hearings that people entering the criminal justice system must go through.

Once the ARD program is completed successfully, the original criminal charges are dismissed, and the offender may, 30 days after completion of the program, request the court to expunge the offender’s arrest record and ARD participation. Bear in mind that the ARD records will always be in the office of the District Attorney.

In Pennsylvania, admission into ARD is controlled by the District Attorney, who has broad discretion as to whom to allow into the program. Typically your criminal attorney will assist you in the process of admission into the ARD program but your counsel should caution you that there are no guarantees.

You will not be “convicted” of a crime if you enter the ARD program. Furthermore, the loss of your license to drive privileges will be for a short period of time, rather than the full year for a first time DUI conviction.

Additionally, 30 days after completion of the program, you can go to court to get the arrest record and ARD record expunged- cleaned up completely and removed from your past. 

Different counties have different stipulations and different application processes.

This is a developing story on TalkWilliamsport.com.

Congressman Keller releases video of conversation with border patrol agent:

“[Cartels] run people and then they’ll run dope behind it somewhere else.”

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) released the third installment of a candid conversation with a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a ride in El Paso in April. In the video, the agent explains that cartels control all aspects of travel across the border, using people to divert drug smuggling operations and other illicit activities.

(Click to watch)

Video transcript:

“If I was in Mexico and I wanted to cross over, I would have to pay a cartel to allow me to go across. I wouldn’t be able to just walk across because they’d beat me up or kill me.

“So even If I’m doing it independently, I have to pay a fee to do it. The reason they do that is because the more attention I draw to a certain area, they might not be able to use that to run their operations.

“They run dope and people simultaneously. They’ll run people and then they’ll run dope behind it somewhere else. Wherever the holes at.”

Cutting energy development in ANWR will make America weaker

 Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) today released the following statement on President Joe Biden suspending oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR):

“The fuel crisis that rocked the eastern seaboard last month illustrates the importance of investing in and securing American energy. Instead, President Biden dealt a major blow to America’s energy independence by banning responsible energy development in Alaska. Slashing domestic energy production does nothing to lessen its demand. It only serves to make our nation weaker and more dependent on foreign energy. Under President Trump, we experienced the benefits of an all-the-above energy economy: lower energy costs, family-sustaining wages, and strong national security. President Biden is putting politics over homegrown energy.”

Joins Oversight and Reform Committee Republicans in calling on Chairwoman Maloney to act

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) and House Oversight and Reform Committee Republicans sent a third letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) demanding a hearing to address the growing crisis at the southern border. According to the U.S. Border Patrol, there were 178,622 border encounters in April alone, marking a 20-year high in illegal border crossings.

“As we noted in our previous letter, this Committee held multiple hearings during the Trump administration on the treatment of children at the border,” the letter to Maloney reads. “It is surprising that you have failed to schedule a hearing during the current border crisis created by the Biden administration, especially as conditions continue to deteriorate and more and more taxpayer funds are required. Even as you remain silent, members of your own party in both the Senate and the House have decried the Biden Administration’s response to the border crisis.”

On the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s letter, Congressman Fred Keller made the following statement:

“In April, I traveled to the southern border and was stunned by the scope of the humanitarian and national security crisis unfolding due to the Biden administration’s detrimental immigration policies like halting border wall construction, ending the ’remain in Mexico’ policy, and functionally abolishing ICE. Now more than 50 days since my trip, the border crisis continues to worsen by the day as Vice President Harris—tapped by President Biden to lead the administration’s border efforts—has made no attempt to witness the crisis for herself. I urge Chairwoman Maloney to hold a hearing so we can get a clear answer from the Biden administration on what it plans to do to get this crisis under control.”

Read the full letter here.

Says Biden’s decision on Nord Stream 2 diminishes national security, energy independence 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) introduced the Protecting Our Wellbeing by Expanding Russian Sanctions Act or the POWERS Act, legislation that would immediately reinstate sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In May, President Biden waived sanctions on Nord Stream 2, a gas pipeline that will supply Europe with Russian gas once completed.

On the bill, Congressman Keller made the following statement:

“At every turn, President Biden has worked to unravel America’s energy independence, resulting in skyrocketing energy costs, the elimination of family-sustaining energy jobs, and a weakened position on a global stage. After the Colonial Pipeline hack, the Biden administration faced an important decision: either invest in American energy and make it more secure or continue down a radical path that makes our nation reliant on energy from nations that do not have our best interests in mind. Unfortunately, the president’s decision to lift sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline—while simultaneously hampering domestic energy production—makes it clear where this administration stands. I’m proud to introduce the POWERS Act and prioritize American energy.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

BACKGROUND: In his first seven days in office, President Biden cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline, rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, and banned mining and drilling on federal lands, hindering America’s ability to produce energy domestically. 

On May 7, the Colonial Pipeline was hacked by Russian cybercriminals. The resulting fuel crisis highlighted the Biden administration’s failure to invest in domestic energy and safeguard it as critical infrastructure. On May 14, 2021, Congressman Keller sent a letter to President Biden calling on his administration to prioritize infrastructure projects like new pipelines and refineries to make American energy more secure.

In an effort to make the Office of Attorney General’s Community Drug Abuse Prevention (CDAP) grant program more accessible – the office has launched an online application form.  The CDAP program was created to foster parent and community groups in leading grassroots efforts to prevent the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse from harming Pennsylvanians, especially children and young adults.

Grant funding is available to help communities provide safe alternatives to drug and alcohol abuse, as well as fact-based education, prevention, or intervention efforts related to drug and alcohol abuse — including the violence and other consequences that these substances can cause.

Interested educators and community leaders can apply to CDAP at https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/cdap/.

Photos: Samantha Wilson at Crosscutters game (left)

Charlie Manuel, Samantha Wilson and Larry Bowa (right)

By: Todd Bartley

News@TalkWilliamsport.com

Thursday morning, Samantha Wilson, former TalkWilliamsport.com intern announced on social media she has joined NBC Sports Philadelphia and the show “Down The Line w/ Charlie & Bo” which will air Saturday’s on NBC Sports Philadelphia beginning this weekend and air through early October.

The names mentioned include a pair of former Phillies managers in Charlie Manuel and Larry Bowa.

According to the Facebook post by Wilson:

Well guys, the news is OUT!! MY FIRST TV JOB! Never in a million years did I think I’d be making my TV debut w/ these two.. especially after a pandemic. A true “pinch me” moment. Check out new eps. of “Down The Line w/ Charlie & Bo” Saturday’s on NBCS Philly now through early October!

Wilson interned for TalkWilliamsport.com while attending Lock Haven University.

She performed pre and post game interviews with Crosscutters players during live game broadcasts. She also contributed pre and post game interviews during game broadcasts with local high school and college football coaches and players.

According to Todd Bartley of TalkWilliamsport.com, “Sam has come along way since her intern days and been very successful early in her broadcast career. 97.5 The Fanatic morning show right out of college and now a regional sports network opportunity. It is very rewarding to see the skills she honed and developed in Williamsport being applied and realized on those big stages.”