a day ago
District court: Sexual assault charges held; shooting case continued
FRACKVILLE — A corrections officer at State Correctional Institution-Frackville accused of having sex with an inmate had her charges bound over to court Wednesday.
Jocelyn Ebert, 23, of Pottsville, appeared before Magisterial District Judge Edward J. Tarantelli on a felony charge of institutional sexual assault and a misdemeanor charge of obstructing administration of law.
State police alleged Ebert, while on the clock as a CO, had sex with an inmate multiple times over a months-long period, starting in 2024. After investigating, police found the two had engaged in sexual activity through the wicket on the inmate's cell door and in a closet on his cell block.
After a brief stipulated hearing Wednesday, Tarantelli bound the charges over to Schuylkill County Court. Ebert, represented by attorney Nicholas A. Quinn, will have to plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial in county court.
Ebert was charged April 28, and her bail was set at $25,000 unsecured.
Hearing postponed
A preliminary hearing for a McAdoo woman facing attempted homicide charges was postponed Wednesday because a witness was absent.
Jennifer E. Villa, accused of shooting at a man after a neighborhood altercation, appeared before Tarantelli on attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other charges.
The judge granted the commonwealth's request for a continuance so that they could include testimony from a key eyewitness, who is currently away from the county on vacation.
Villa has been jailed in Schuylkill County Prison since June 11 on $500,000 bail.
The hearing has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 2.
