[PA] Fire Chief Yuknavich CAN commit domestic violence and other crimes off-duty

Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Chief John Yuknavich

"Whatever he does after anything before eight or anything after four is none of my concern."
~~ WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP MAYOR CARL KUREN:


[Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Chief John Yuknavich] is in trouble again, this time for allegedly harassing his ex-girlfriend, punching her friend and stealing her cellphone Sunday morning... He was arrested and charged with simple assault, terroristic threats, theft, and harassment... [KS] had two chipped teeth and sustained multiple bruises and cuts to his face... Yuknavich is charged with two counts of terroristic threats, and one count each of simple assault and theft, all misdemeanors, and a summary offense of harassment... [Ex-girlfriend DP] and his own daughter had previously taken out restraining orders against Yuknavich but [DP] withdrew it in May 2010 due to "health problems from the stress"...

PREVIOUS POST: August 15, 2010
[PA] Fire Chief John Yuknavich - You name it - he's done it or been accused of it - ...hit-and-run crash, drunken domestic dispute, profanity-laced shouting match with police, driving around at 4 a.m. in a fire department vehicle with its emergency lights flashing, damage to unattended property, public drunkenness, two counts of disorderly conduct, careless driving, failure to notify police about an accident, harassment charge... Citations filed against Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Chief John Paul Yuknavich have reopened old wounds for the family of Scott Koonrad. Koonrad, 32, died at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre on May 21, 2006, nine days after he told family members Yuknavich assaulted him...

W-B TWP. FIRE CHIEF'S JOB STILL SAFE AFTER LATEST ARREST
Citizens Voice
By Bob Kalinowski
November 8, 2011
[Excerpts] Arrested yet again, John P. Yuknavich's jobs as Wilkes-Barre Township fire chief and a public works employee appear to be safe yet again. In light of Yuknavich's latest arrest Sunday on terroristic threats and assault charges, Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren on Monday repeated a common refrain he has used after Yuknavich's past brushes with the law: he can't discipline Yuknavich for off-hours conduct and can't control who is chief of the all-volunteer fire department. The man running against Kuren in today's election begs to differ. "Enough is enough. How many times could you embarrass the township?" said Democratic mayoral candidate John Bryan, who argued he'd find a way to remove Yuknavich from his positions if he were mayor... The arrest was the latest in a lengthy list of controversies involving Yuknavich over the past decade. He was cited by police for minor offenses 15 times since 2001, was the subject of restraining orders filed by his own daughter and [Ex-girlfriend DP], and was sued for defamation by a township resident. In addition, three state agencies have criticized the financial practices of the fire department under his stewardship... "I'm trying to be very honest. I'm not sticking up for him. I'm looking out for the township so we don't get sued," Kuren said... [Full article here]

COPS: FIRE CHIEF THREATENED TO SHOOT 2 IN HEAD: W-B Twp. fire chief also charged in assault of ex-girlfriend and her male friend.
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
By Edward Lewis
November 8, 2011
[Excerpts] Arrest papers obtained Monday allege Wilkes-Barre township Fire Chief John Paul Yuknavich followed his ex-girlfriend, [Ex-girlfriend DP], from a nightclub to her residence in Plains Township. where he assaulted her and her male friend, [KS]. Plains Township police further allege Yuknavich, 48, of Northampton Street, threatened to put a bullet in each of their heads early Sunday morning. It is the latest in a series of police-related incidents involving Yuknavich in Plains Township, according to court records and The Times Leader archives. Yuknavich has been the fire chief in Wilkes-Barre Township for more than 12 years and has been employed by the township’s road department for nearly 20 years... Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren and Yuknavich’s mother, council President Mary Yuknavich, could not be reached for comment... According to the latest criminal complaint... [Ex-girlfriend DP] said Yuknavich showed up and punched [Ks] several times in the face. When she tried to call 911, Yuknavich grabbed her cell phone... [KS] and [Ex-girlfriend DP] reported that Yuknavich reached into his waistband and stated he was going to put a bullet in both their heads. Police charged Yuknavich with two counts of terroristic threats, and one count each of simple assault and theft, all misdemeanors, and a summary offense of harassmen... A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Nov. 15 before District Judge Diana Malast in Plains Township. [Full article here]

EMBATTLED WILKES-BARRE TWP. FIRE CHIEF IN TROUBLE AGAIN
Citizens Voice
November 7, 201
[Excerpts] Wilkes-Barre Township's fire chief is in trouble again, this time for allegedly harassing his ex-girlfriend, punching her friend and stealing her cellphone Sunday morning. John P. Yuknavich, 48, of East Northampton Street, is charged with simple assault, harassment, theft and terroristic threats... [KS] of Hughestown was sitting inside a car with Yuknavich's ex-girlfriend [Ex-girlfriend DP] when a man approached the car and began punching [KS] in the face. The man, who police identified as Yuknavich, dragged [Ex-girlfriend DP] out of the car and stole her iPhone. [DP] told police Yuknavich "threatened to put bullets in both of their heads." [KS] had two chipped teeth and sustained multiple bruises and cuts to his face. He was treated by Hughestown emergency medical personnel... Yuknavich was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Martin Kane and lodged in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of paying 10 percent of $10,000 bail. Corrections officials said he was bailed out Sunday afternoon. A preliminary hearing date has not yet been set. Kane also granted [DP]'s request for an emergency protection from abuse order against Yuknavich. [DP] had previously taken out a restraining order against Yuknavich in April 2010, but withdrew it in May 2010 due to "health problems from the stress.... I believe the defendant will work his problems out, so it will not be necessary"... Records show harassment charges against Yuknavich for an April 11, 2010 incident were dismissed because [DP] refused to testify against him. Yuknavich pleaded guilty in August 2010 to two counts of disorderly conduct for a Feb. 28, 2010 incident involving a domestic dispute and yelling obscenities at Plains Township police officers... Records show Yuknavich was cited by police numerous times since 2001 for minor offenses, mostly public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. For most of them he was either found not guilty or the charges were dropped; he pleaded guilty to the others... [Full article here]

POLICE: FIRE CHIEF THREATENED TO SHOOT EX-GIRLFRIEND
WNEP-TV
By Jim Murdoch
November 7, 2011
[Excerpts] ... Police said Yuknavich followed both of them to a residence in Plains Township. He got out of his car, went to the driver`s side window of [KS]`s car, hit him several times, broke his teeth, then went over to the passenger side. He pulled [Ex-girlfriend DP] out of the car, grabbed her iPhone, and threatened to shoot both of them. Yuknavich was arrested and charged with simple assault, terroristic threats, theft, and harassment. The volunteer fire chief is also an employee of Wilkes-Barre Township. The mayor said Yuknavich's future depends on the outcome of the charges in court. "He works for me as a roads employee. He works here from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Whatever he does after anything before eight or anything after four is none of my concern," said Mayor Carl Kuren... As of right now, Yuknavich still has his job with the township and his position with the fire department. [Full article here]
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