A former member of the Scranton’s Human Relations Commission is to serve 10 months in jail and 38 months on probation after he trespassed on West Scranton High School property and later assaulted a Geisinger employee during a mental health crisis in September.
Michael Villa, 30, of Pittston Avenue, showed up at the school requesting a tour on Sept. 19, but when denied began acting erratically and left.
Staff became concerned for building safety, and the Scranton School District put all of its buildings on lockdown because they were unaware of Villa’s intentions. Police soon located Villa and took him into custody and to Geisinger Community Medical Center for a mental health evaluation.
There, Villa threw his cellphone at a hospital security guard.
Villa was originally charged with criminal trespass on school grounds at West Scranton High School and harassment, in addition to aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment of a GCMC employee trying to help him during a mental health crisis.
In February, Villa pleaded guilty to felony criminal trespass and simple assault. Prosecutors dropped the other charges as part of a plea agreement, according to Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher.
Lackawanna County Judge Andy Jarbola sentenced Villa to five months in jail and 19 months of probation on each charge.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Osbourne said the DA’s office and the court took Villa’s mental health challenges into consideration when it came to sentencing.
Prosecutors conferred with Scranton police and spoke with the victim, Osbourne said.
The court has also mandated that Villa cooperate with his probation officer, who will be specifically assigned to address mental health during his probationary period.
The sentence provides opportunity for Villa to be held accountable for his actions while getting the help he needs, Gallagher said.
Villa resigned from the Human Relations Commission following his arrest.
