September 29, 2015- Commonwealth v Mark Ponnett:  Mark Ponnett appeared before the Honorable John F. Cherry on September 29, 2015, and pleaded guilty to three counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking and three counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person.  He was sentenced to 6-23 months in Dauphin County Prison.   Factually, between October 11, 2013 and December 17, 2013, the defendant removed fifty-one (51) storm grates from multiple areas in Dauphin County and surrounding areas.    Detective Tom Pavone from Derry Township Police Department investigated the incidents after multiple construction sites were complaining about storm grates being taken from their sites.  It was found that the storm grates were being taken to be sold as scrap metal.   In total, Highspire Public Works, Susquehanna Township Highway Department, Lower Swatara Township Public Works, Steelton Borough, Swatara Township Highway Department, Upper Allen Township, Lower Paxton Township, Lemoyne Borough, Osteopathic Hospital, Middletown Borough, Derry Township, and multiple construction companies suffered a loss from the storm grates being taken.  The overall restitution ordered amounted to $10,275.00.  This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sarah Phillips.   

Ponnett also pleaded guilty to an unrelated Driving Under the Influence charge where he was sentenced to 72 hours – 6 months in Dauphin County Prison.