WILKES-BARRE – A man charged with assaulting a paramedic and police officer in October 2009 was sentenced Monday to two years in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program.
James Michael Hughes, 22, with a last known address of State Street, Wilkes-Barre, was sentenced on charges of simple assault, public drunkenness and harassment, as well as an unrelated charge of possession of a controlled substance by Luzerne County Senior Judge Joseph Augello.
Augello said Hughes will serve the first six months on house arrest followed by one-year probation. Hughes must serve his sentence consecutively to another house arrest sentence he received last year on unrelated possession with intent to deliver and theft by unlawful taking charges.
According to court papers:
On Oct. 23, 2009, police were called to Oaklawn Avenue in Hanover Township for the report of a man attempting to break into vehicles. Police said Hughes was eventually taken to the police department, where he was highly intoxicated and had swelling on his head.
After requesting medical attention, Hughes threw punches at an officer and shoved a paramedic and spit on him.
In the drug case, police said Hughes was in a vehicle on Carey Avenue in Hanover Township when police found him in possession of seven packets of suspected heroin.
