Man sentenced to house arrest after DUI incident

A State College man was sentenced to house arrest and probation for his role in a vehicle crash that left a woman injured.

Paul Lenker III, 29, was charged with driving under the influence in July 2016 stemming from an incident in June 2016. He was later charged in October 2016 with felony counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle while DUI and accidents involving personal injury, noting that during the incident he had backed his car over the legs of a female companion who was standing near the car.

The felony charges were dismissed during the preliminary hearing in October 2016, but were refiled in January after a Centre County grand jury investigation presentment recommended charges in December.

According to the presentment, Lenker and the woman had been drinking that night in downtown State College when he attempted to drive the woman’s vehicle. A group of college-aged individuals had reportedly kicked the car near the intersection of Calder Way and High Street, and the woman had gotten out to confront the group.

While she was out of the vehicle, Lenker backed the car up, ran over the woman’s legs and hit a telephone pole, the presentment said. Lenker had reportedly attempted to get her back into the car before police and EMS arrived.

He pleaded guilty in August to one count of accidents involving personal injury, one count of DUI and one count of careless driving. He was sentenced Friday by Centre County Judge Thomas Kistler to pay $2,525 in fines, surrender his license and will serve 90 days house arrest followed by almost two years probation.

In other sentencings:

▪ James N. Shea, 31, of Meriden, Conn., was sentenced to state prison time after pleading guilty to a prohibited possession of firearms charge from March.

He was sentenced to pay the costs of prosecution, a $50 fine and two-to-four years state prison time to begin Monday. He received credit for one day served.

▪ Troy Ripka, 33, of Milesburg, was sentenced to county jail time after pleading guilty to counts of simple assault and criminal mischief from June.

He was sentenced to pay the costs of prosecution, a $75 fine, one day of community service and will serve 90 days to 23 and a half months at the Centre County Correctional Facility. He must also serve one year of probation following his jail sentence and will receive 90 days credit for time served.

This story was originally published October 20, 2017 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Man sentenced to house arrest after DUI incident."