Second alleged dumper pleads guilty for Route 924 mess

SHENANDOAH – A Hazleton woman agreed to pay $476.99 in fines and costs after trash from a Shenandoah home she owns was found strewn about Route 924.

Fiord Mayos De Lopez, 48, of Hazleton, pleaded guilty to a summary charge of scattering rubbish Monday before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in his Shenandoah courtroom.

She was cited by West Mahanoy Township Police Chief Matt Williams as one of three offenders accused of heavily-littering the stretch of Route 924 between the Pattersonville/Brandonville wye and the top of the mountain.

Initially, she pleaded not guilty and was prepared to go to summary trial. Williams was present along with Code Enforcement Officer Matt Kropp and Shenandoah borough officials: Manager Mike Cadau, Council President Joe Boris, and Vice President Mike “Zeckie” Uholik. Shenandoah Borough owns the property where the trash was left.

After a discussion with Williams, De Lopez agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine on a payment plan.

The fine is $300, plus costs, amounting to $476.99 total. Williams said there is no restitution cost since PennDOT cleaned up the mess.

Much of the trash came from a home she owns on West Cherry Street in Shenandoah.

“So you’ve seen all the signs up there on your way down here,” Kilker told the woman, referring to the multitude of No Dumping and No Parking signs now posted along the route.

The mention of the no parking signs and a language barrier initially led to De Lopez contesting. She had a court-appointed translator.

“Are you taking responsibility or are you asking for a hearing,” Kilker asked. The confusion cleared through discussion along with Williams and the translator.

She agreed to a payment plan to pay the fine and costs.

Her guilty plea follows a guilty plea by Vaneliza Mejia Andujar, 27, of Shenandoah Heights, who has already paid the fine and costs.

Elie De Los Santos Nova, 52, of Shenandoah, was also cited and has yet to be served. First class mail was unsuccessful.

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Kaylee Lindenmuth

Kaylee Lindenmuth is a Shenandoah native with a passion for journalism and the community she calls home. She is a 12-time Keystone Media Award winner, a PAB Excellence in Broadcasting award winner, and has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy award.

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