|
Williamsport, PA – Acting U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane announced today the U.S.
Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Harold Hoskins in Williamsport.
Hoskins was being sought on a bench warrant issued February 21, 2007 by Lycoming
County Court of Common Pleas Judge William S. Kieser. The warrant, held by the
Lycoming County Sheriffs Office, charged Hoskins with Failure to Appear for
sentencing in the Lycoming County Courthouse.
On July 8, 2005, the Williamsport Bureau of Police responded to the 300 block of
E. Church Street on the report of a man with a gun. It was determined that
Harold Hoskins had entered a residence, pulled a firearm from his waistband,
held it to the head and abdomen of two individuals, and pulled the trigger. The
firearm malfunctioned, based upon the condition it was in. Hoskins was taken
into custody at the scene. He was found to be in possession of crack cocaine.
Hoskins had been previously convicted of a felony offense, and was prohibited
from owning or possessing a firearm.
An arrest warrant was signed by Magisterial District Judge James Sortman in
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, charging Hoskins with the following offenses:
- 2 counts of Criminal Attempt Homicide
- 2 counts of Robbery
- 1 count of Possession of a Firearm
- 1 count of Firearms not to be Carried
without a License
- 1 count of Possessing Instruments of Crime
- 1 count of Possession of Crack Cocaine
- 1 count of Terroristic Threats
Hoskins was lodged in the Lycoming County Prison
from July 2005 until January 2006. Bail was set at $40,000.00. On January 5,
2006, Hoskins was released from custody. He remained on bail during the
prosecution of his case in Lycoming County.
In January 2007, Judge William S. Kieser presided over a jury trial in the
Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas. On February 5, 2007, the jury returned a
verdict of Guilty on all 9 counts against Hoskins. His sentencing was set for
March 27, 2007. Hoskins’ bail was modified, and he was placed on intensive
supervised bail. Hoskins then failed to appear for any bail supervision
meetings, as well as his scheduled sentencing hearing in late March 2007.
Based upon the 9 felony convictions, Hoskins was facing a maximum state prison
sentence of 126 years.
The Lycoming County Sheriffs Office requested the assistance of the U.S.
Marshals Service to locate and apprehend Hoskins. This fugitive case was adopted
by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of
Pennsylvania.
U.S. Marshals based in Williamsport developed information on the fugitive’s
possible whereabouts in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Investigative leads
were sent to U.S. Marshals in these locations, but they met with negative
results.
Within the past 2 days, U.S. Marshals developed information that Hoskins may
have returned to Williamsport.
On March 22 at approximately 6:30PM, U.S. Marshals and members of its M/PA
Fugitive Task Force made entry into a home in the 400 block of Wilson Street in
Williamsport. The fugitive was found hiding in a 2nd story bedroom. He was
arrested without incident. When confronted by U.S. Marshals, he admitted his
true name.
Hoskins, now 50 years of age, was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in
Williamsport. He will await a court appearance and sentencing on the 9 felony
convictions from 2007.
Acting U.S. Marshal Pane stated, “The arrest of Hoskins sends a strong message
to other fugitives, especially those who have eluded capture for so long. We are
committed to ridding our communities of fugitives charged with violent offenses,
and continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure their
apprehension.”
U.S. Marshals were assisted by several agencies that comprise its M/PA Fugitive
Task Force. This included officers from the Lycoming County Sheriffs Office and
the Northumberland County Adult Probation Office.
The concept of all USMS-led fugitive operations is to seek out and arrest the
nation’s most dangerous offenders.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals
can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.
####
America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency |
