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Richard Gomez, 51, of Lebanon, was swinging a sword when he threatened to kill two victims who were walking in the 500 block of Cumberland Street around 11:40 p.m. Sept. 8, Lebanon City police say.
Gomez was charged with four misdemeanors for Threats and Simple Assault, as well as a summary offense for Harassment, the police stated in the release and court documents confirm.
He was released from the Lebanon County Prison on a $10,000 surety bond on Sept. 11, court records show.
His preliminary hearing has been scheduled by Magisterial District Judge Aurelis Figueroa on Oct. 6 at 8 a.m., according to his latest court docket.
A motion has been filed "for Hearing on Denial of Defendant's Application for Public Defender" on Sept. 21, so an "Assignment of Counsel" court date has been set before Judge Samuel A. Kline on Sept. 28 at 8:30 a.m., court records show.
Gomez previously served prison time in New York after he "stole more than $8,000 from two victims by falsely promising to help them obtain green cards and other government documents," Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said at the time of his arrest in Nov. 2015.
At that time, Gomez had fled New York and returned to Lebanon where he was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Neal Navitsky and then Detective Sergeant John Hess of the Lebanon Police Department, according to the DA's release.
He had been dressed as a member of the NYPD and "preyed on some of the most vulnerable members of our community and exploited their desires to achieve the American dream,” District Attorney Thompson said during the sentencing in 2016.
Gomez pled guilty as part of a negotiated plea along with his accomplices Marisol Mercado and Francisco Mercado, also of Lebanon, who were both sentenced to conditional discharges, on March 9, the New York Post reports.
During that sentencing, Gomez thanked Judge Danny Chun and called him "an angel," the outlet says.
“Don’t thank me, thank the District Attorney’s office,” retorted, “They’re the ones who offered you this plea.”
“But I thank you, your honor,” Gomez said as Chun, speaking over him, sentenced him to 1-to-3 years in prison on the charge of third-degree grand larceny, according to the outlet's report.
At that time he had already been arrested 16 times, the outlet reported.
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