On Wednesday, March 27, President Judge James Arner sentenced 40-year-old Earth Donato of New Bethlehem, at to two years of probation on one first-degree misdemeanor count of terroristic threats and one year of probation on one second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault, with the sentences to run consecutively for a total of three years of probation.

Court documents indicate Donato pleaded guilty to the above charges on February 20, 2019.

As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:

– Unlawful Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury, Misdemeanor 1
– Stalking — Repeatedly Commit Acts To Cause Fear, Misdemeanor 1
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 3
– Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, Sergeant Nicole Peck received a complaint of an assault that occurred in New Bethlehem Borough.

Sergeant Peck was met at the department by a known man who stated that he was traveling down Liberty Street toward Broad Street and then made a left turn onto Broad Street, traveling north on State Route 28.

The victim said that as he was stopped at a red light a man came up to his work truck, standing at his front driver’s side door, and started hitting him through the window. He said the man kept stating that he had “cut him off” while grabbing at his neck and striking him.

The victim said he unbuckled his seatbelt, grabbed a pair of channel locks, and hit the man over the head. He then got back into his vehicle and traveled to a nearby parking lot, and the man followed him in a black Dodge truck. The victim then traveled north to a local business, and the man continued to follow him into the car wash.

The victim said the man then brandished a firearm at him and that he was in fear for his life.

The victim then drove to the New Bethlehem Police Department, with the man still following him.

The complaint states that Officer Clark then intervened. The man in the black Dodge truck was identified as Earth Donato.

Donato was transported to the Clarion Hospital Emergency Room for treatment of his injuries. He was then read his Miranda Warnings and agreed to speak with Sergeant Peck.

According to the complaint, Donato stated that “he had a bad day at work and overreacted during the incident.”

Donato was arraigned at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 22, in Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller’s office.