Pottsville man charged with sparking overnight police incident waives hearing; next step county court

POTTSVILLE — A city man charged with sparking an overnight police incident outside his home on Aug. 8 saw his case head to Schuylkill County Court after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday.

John J. Liptok Sr., 58, who is now behind bars at State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy on charges from a prior case, appeared before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley on one felony count each of weapons of mass destruction and bomb threats, and two felony counts of terroristic threats.

However, the defendant saw the weapons of mass destruction charge dismissed and now faces a new charge of a felon not to possess a firearm.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew T. Bench, who represents the prosecution, said the charge stems from a .22-caliber rifle that was found at the defendant’s home and determined to be operable with ammunition.

By waiving his right to the hearing, the defendant will have to answer to the charges in county court, where he can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

Liptok, who was brought into the district judge’s office in a wheelchair, is represented by attorney Charles E. Dutko Jr., Kutztown.

Liptok had been charged by city police shortly after he sparked a standoff outside his home at 1803 W. Norwegian St. The incident began after police tried to serve a warrant for his failure to appear for sentencing in county court the day prior on weapons and drug-related crimes, which led Judge Christina E. Hale to issue a bench warrant.

Police went to his home to serve the warrant, after which Liptok made a number of threats, including with what appeared to be a grenade.

That led to a large police presence being summoned to the area, including the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team, a sharpshooter on a nearby roof and an armored vehicle.

Police were at the property until the early morning hours and eventually searched the house, but they determined the next day that Liptok had left the property during the early stages of the incident.

The defendant was apprehended the next morning about a mile away after a suspicious male was reported to be walking on Hillside Road. He was arraigned by Reiley and jailed in Schuylkill County Prison, denied bail due to the severity of the charges.

Liptok was later sentenced to more than two years in a state correctional facility on the charges from the previous case from June 2022. He was transferred to SCI/Mahanoy in November, according to online court records.

On Monday, Reiley set the defendant’s bail on the Aug. 8, 2023, case at $75,000.

Bench had asked that it be set at $100,000, while Dutko requested 10% of $100,000.

Bench said the defendant represents a clear and present danger to society based on the events leading up to his charges. The incident happened while a block party was underway in the defendant’s neighborhood and prompted the evacuation of nearby homes.

“The defendant has never taken the view of the community into his actions,” Bench said.