Published: May 20, 2008 11:54 pm      

City man pleads guilty to federal drug charges

A Johnstown man has pleaded guilty to violating federal drug laws. Walter E. Parks III of the 100 block of Jesse Lane entered his plea in federal court before U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson.

Parks was accused of distributing heroin in 2005. He also was charged with using forged prescriptions in 2006 to illegally obtain painkillers from five local pharmacies.

The FBI, Cambria County Drug Task Force and Richland Township police investigated the incidents.

Parks’ sentencing is scheduled for September.

In other crime news:

• Man charged with indecent assault

State police have charged Donald B. Garver, 57, of the 1300 block of Fourth Street in Nanty Glo, with three counts of indecent assault and one count each of indecent exposure and open lewdness as a result of incidents they say took place in July and August.

The incidents involved a juvenile who was younger than 13 at the time, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Kenneth Durbin.

The incidents happened in Nanty Glo, according to the police criminal complaint.

Reached by telephone Tuesday, Durbin declined to give the gender of the victim, citing the victim’s juvenile status.

A preliminary hearing for Garver is scheduled for June 23 before District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi of Vinco.

• Blair resident admits timber thefts

A Blair County man has pleaded guilty to stealing timber or the proceeds from it and not paying state income taxes from 2003 to 2005.

It’s unclear how much prison time 37-year-old Francis Ritchey of Claysburg faces.

A hearing will be held June 9 to determine the value of the thefts. That, in turn, will drive the state sentencing guidelines.

State prosecutors believe more than $300,000 in timber was stolen and say Ritchey likely faces up to 31/2 to seven years in prison.

Investigators say Ritchey illegally removed timber from land in Blair and Bedford counties without paying for it. In some instances, Ritchey agreed to split the proceeds 50-50 but paid property owners only a fraction of that.