2008 Woodie Awards
RSSSwimmers' hearings delayed, reasons unclear
By Samantha Maes
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: News
The preliminary hearing for two members of the swim team, Darren Podolak, '09, and Mac Tichner, '09, was changed from Sept. 21 to Nov. 19.
Podolak and Tichner allegedly hosted a party at their home on Taylor Street on Sept.13.
The party was broken up by Police and 18 students, including 12 members of the swim team, were cited.
According to the case files at the district magistrate office, Podolak and Tichner are each accused of 18 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, two counts of reckless endangerment of a minor, two counts of corruption of minors, one count for drinking underage and two for violating city ordinances.
Podolak explained why the hearing, presided over by Judge Nancy Matos, was rescheduled, via e-mail.
Podolak said Judge Matos' assistant contacted him on Sept. 19 to reschedule because Judge Matos would be away on the hearing date.
In an e-mail interview, Tichner agreed with Podolak, saying Judge Matos' schedule was the reason why the hearing had been moved to November.
Tichner said it is fairly typical for hearings to be rescheduled.
But, in a phone interview, Judge Matos responded to Podolak and Tichner's comments by saying Tichner's counsel was unavailable on Sept. 21.
Matos later clarified her initial statement, saying the swimmers did not call her office to identify their counsel.
As a courtesy her office called and left a message with the swimmers, but because they had not heard back, the hearing had to be rescheduled.
Although the hearings for Podolak and Tichner will be on the same day, they will be represented by different counsels.
According to the affidavit, on the night of Sept. 13, Officer William Wright of the Bethlehem Police Department was patrolling the area when he heard loud music coming from Taylor Street.
Two minors in the house were found to be highly intoxicated and one was taken to the hospital.
Podolak and Tichner were arraigned before District Judge Michael Koury Jr. of the Wilson Borough.
Podolak and Tichner were committed to Northampton County Prison, and were later released on $10,000 and $15,000 bail, respectively.
Podolak and Tichner face a first degree misdemeanor, five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Podolak and Tichner allegedly hosted a party at their home on Taylor Street on Sept.13.
The party was broken up by Police and 18 students, including 12 members of the swim team, were cited.
According to the case files at the district magistrate office, Podolak and Tichner are each accused of 18 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, two counts of reckless endangerment of a minor, two counts of corruption of minors, one count for drinking underage and two for violating city ordinances.
Podolak explained why the hearing, presided over by Judge Nancy Matos, was rescheduled, via e-mail.
Podolak said Judge Matos' assistant contacted him on Sept. 19 to reschedule because Judge Matos would be away on the hearing date.
In an e-mail interview, Tichner agreed with Podolak, saying Judge Matos' schedule was the reason why the hearing had been moved to November.
Tichner said it is fairly typical for hearings to be rescheduled.
But, in a phone interview, Judge Matos responded to Podolak and Tichner's comments by saying Tichner's counsel was unavailable on Sept. 21.
Matos later clarified her initial statement, saying the swimmers did not call her office to identify their counsel.
As a courtesy her office called and left a message with the swimmers, but because they had not heard back, the hearing had to be rescheduled.
Although the hearings for Podolak and Tichner will be on the same day, they will be represented by different counsels.
According to the affidavit, on the night of Sept. 13, Officer William Wright of the Bethlehem Police Department was patrolling the area when he heard loud music coming from Taylor Street.
Two minors in the house were found to be highly intoxicated and one was taken to the hospital.
Podolak and Tichner were arraigned before District Judge Michael Koury Jr. of the Wilson Borough.
Podolak and Tichner were committed to Northampton County Prison, and were later released on $10,000 and $15,000 bail, respectively.
Podolak and Tichner face a first degree misdemeanor, five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
