Embattled Pa. Chief Convicted of Trespassing

While he is facing much bigger issues in federal court, former Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Chief John Yuknavich was found guilty Thursday in magisterial court on a trespassing charge.

Magisterial District Judge Diana Malast found Yuknavich guilty after he failed to show up for his hearing Thursday morning on the summary, non-traffic citation. She fined him $251.

Spotted later at the Luzerne County Courthouse, Yuknavich attributed his absence in court to a “mix-up” while picking up documents to file an appeal.

“I forgot about the date,” Yuknavich said. “We’re going to appeal.”

Yuknavich, 50, also confirmed he has resigned his position as fire chief, as required by a plea deal he struck with prosecutors on federal theft charges.

“That’s done. I did that last week. Now, I’m just a regular member,” Yuknavich said.

Yuknavich was charged last week in federal court with stealing from the Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Department. As part of a plea deal, he was ordered to step down as chief, pay $45,000 in restitution, and not hold any leadership or officer positions in the fire department for five years.

Asked if he would seek to regain the chief’s position in five years, Yuknavich said, “Maybe. Who knows?”

Yuknavich’s guilty plea for his federal court case is scheduled for Sept. 25 in federal court in Scranton before U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik.

The trespassing case against Yuknavich stemmed from a long-simmering feud between Yuknavich and township resident Joseph Naperkowski.

Naperkowski, who lives directly behind the fire hall, had claimed he spotted Yuknavich in his yard on May 1. Police later cited Yuknavich with trespassing.

Yuknavich and Naperkowski have clashed for years, with Naperkowski recently filing a lawsuit claiming Yuknavich invaded his privacy by mounting a camera aimed at Naperkowski’s house atop the firehouse. In October 2009, Naperkowski filed a defamation lawsuit against Yuknavich after the fire chief accused Naperkowski of threatening to kill him, his mother and his family.

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570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

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