Mistrial declared in Lackawanna County Court assault case

David Singleton, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·1 min read

May 17—A judge granted a mistrial Wednesday in the Lackawanna County Court trial of a Northampton County man charged with ramming another man's vehicle with his pickup two years ago in Covington Twp.

Judge Andy Jarbola rescheduled the trial of 35-year-old Gary L. Buskirk for May 30.

The judge indicated the mistrial involved a discovery issue, describing it as a miscommunication among the district attorney's office, Buskirk's defense counsel and his previous defense counsel.

Township police accused Buskirk of intentionally ramming John Schanewolf's SUV at Sandy Beach Road and Yostville Road on May 12, 2021, pushing it about 1,000 feet into a ditch as he threatened to kill the other driver.

Buskirk, of Bath, faces aggravated assault, terroristic threats and other charges.

— DAVID SINGLETON