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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Stockertown's Mayor Has Criminal Past

In 1998. Ken Zemencsik was accused of being part of a crime ring stealing stereo equipment from cars in Nazareth, Upper Nazareth, part of a quartet accused of stealing car stereo equipment by breaking into cars in Nazareth and Upper Naz. He was charged with a multitude of crimes in both counties for theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen goods. 

The cases against him lingered until 2003, when he entered a guilty plea to receiving stolen goods as a third degree misdemeanor instead of as a felony. 

Obviously, he was given a break. But just as obviously, he was denied ARD, a special program for first-time offenders.

Why I am I telling you about this? 

Because Zemencsik is Stockertown's Mayor. He was just re-elected with no opposition. 

In a Borough government, the Mayor is pretty much a poster boy. But he does have one power that should concern us all when he has a criminal past. A borough mayor runs the police department. 

I tried reaching out to Zemencsik a few times to get his side of the story, but he's ignored me. 

I can understand how someone can make mistakes in his youth and then own up to them and turn things around. But what bothers me is that Zemencsik has refused to own up to and explain his previous criminal behavior. 

"He's very busy," said a Stockertown Borough secretary. 

Blogger's Note: There are 17 boroughs in Northampton County. Most get little or no scrutiny. I decided to check each of them for criminal records in Northampton County. The other Mayors have no criminal records. In January, after Chairs are elected in the Townships, I will check each of them as well. 

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay Bernie. If he was denied ARD for first time offenders, did he go to gaol? If so, how much time did he spend in the pokie and where did he serve his time? how old was he then? Was he a teenager or young adult. As a young adult he shouldn't have this buried and you are right to go after him and expose him. As a young teen who admitted his guilt and made proper restitution we usually don't hold this against him for the rest of his life. How did you come by this story about his past? Is there some vindictiveness involved here. Come on. We need to know "The rest of the story".

Bernie O'Hare said...

He was 21 when this happened. He was sentenced to probation. What motivated me? Borough government tends to get very little scrutiny. I decided to check each of the 17 boroughs to see if the Mayors had criminal records because they control police and we had an issue in Nazareth a few years ago. I ignored traffic stops. Stockertown's Mayor is the only one who has a criminal record. I sought his side of the story. I believe the public should know these things. It is up to them to decide what weight to attach to it. He could be a much different person than he was at 21, and I gave him an opportunity to say so.

In January, I will run the Chairs of the Tp boards for criminal records.

Anonymous said...

Stockertown is a good place to start. It is good you ignored traffic violations. Stockertwon is well known as one of a few ticket trap towns. Over the years about one in three drivers seem to get hit up for some sort of traffic violation while driving through that berg. Well known speed trap and good source of revenue for the town.. They are certainly not alone in that type of operation. Even if you question the stop it is set up in a way it is easier to pay the fine and go on with life.

Anonymous said...

I thought the left has a policy of criminal justice reform, where peoples past records are not to be considered. I suspect this mayor is a republican. One other thing, anyone who buys used merchandise risks that it could be stolen property. I do not know the details of this past case, but neither do you, nor do you have a right for this person to have to share details to you, so you can write daily about the affair. More disgusting political warfare.

Anonymous said...

Actually, what motivated you is you are a wanna-be woke mainstream 'journalist' who is denying the writing on the wall that the state of journalism in this country has crashed and is beginning to furiously burn, taking you and the rest of the elite scumbags who try to shit on everyone else down to irrelevance. Fuck off, asshole.

Anonymous said...

Ignored Gracedale but doing a deep dive into ...... wait for it .......

Stockertown.

Anonymous said...

How dare he fail to return your calls! Everyone is obligated to explain and defend themselves to the almighty Bernie about something that happened decades ago. Here's a clue as to why they might decline: O'Hare's snarky comment without any supporting basis that he clearly got a break in sentencing (sure, defendants are never overcharged and prosecutors never reduce charges unless someone's getting a favor). I suspect talking to you only gives you more material to bury someone. The idea that maybe a self-appointed watchdog should have done this type of dirt-digging before an election is a whole other issue. Maybe it would have prompted someone else to run for mayor LOL.

Anonymous said...

It may be nothing, it could be something - either way, Thank You Bernie for what you do.

I know you'll get comments on here in the coming days about being biased media from various supporters and defenders. In the end though, you rightfully direct the publics gaze towards things a lot of people don't want to see or acknowledge and are only too happy to ignore. The only people who actually hate you for it are the ones who are trying to hide it or are ashamed that its being acknowledged.

I don't live in Stockertown, don't know this guy from Adam. I'm sure the story is basically one where few others wanted the "job" and he stepped up - for better or worse. None of us are free from sin, few of us have avoided major mistakes and missteps in life, but our character is built on how we've responded to those mistakes and missteps and the decisions and choices we've made following them.

I truly hope you have other bloggers out there inspired and willing to walk on your same path.

Anonymous said...

This is the new face of my party, sad.

Anonymous said...

With all the criminals in DC and you are concerned with this. Geez. lol

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Ignored Gracedale but doing a deep dive into "

Hate to break it to you, but this blog is the source of any negative news about Gracedale over the past five or six years. It is this blog that broke the story about the nurses who neglected a resident's dressings and even lied about it, claiming to have changed a dressing that was a month old. There are some bad people at Gracedale, but a few less after that story.

What bothers you is that I refuse to accept the narratives of fired and disgruntled employees at face value. I'm funny that way.

Bernie O'Hare said...

" I do not know the details of this past case, but neither do you, nor do you have a right for this person to have to share detailsz"

I do know he has a criminal record and was accused of being involved in criminal ring that broke into people's cars to steal things. I do know he had to plead guilty to a misdemeanor instead of being afforded ARD. I do know tat I offered him ample opportunity to explain, and he refused. I do know that part of the rehabilitative process is being accountable and honestly admitting one's mistakes.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"With all the criminals in DC and you are concerned with this."

It's sad to see people rally around this guy simply bc he is an R. This has nothing to do with his party or his politics. A prominent Philly Council member was convicted recently of honest services fraud. Fed Ed was convicted of corruption. If you wanted me to focus on the criminals in DC, I'd start with the thug Congressman who posted a cartoon of himself killing another member of Congress. Sadly, only two Rs condemned this glorification of violence. It's time to recognize bad behavior for what it is, regardless of party. Maybe you should pray about it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"The idea that maybe a self-appointed watchdog should have done this type of dirt-digging before an election is a whole other issue. Maybe it would have prompted someone else to run for mayor"

I do run the candidates for county council and the larger races for criminal records. It would be better to run these candidates for smaller offices before an election, and I will try to do so in the future.

Anonymous said...

Just like the Nazareth yahoos who still want Carl Strye Jr in thier midst...lol. A bunch of good ol'e boys who don't mind that Carl Strye stole from everyone in Nazareth, FD, Club, etc.

Anonymous said...

You know he was ACCUSED of, He never went to trial, so the real story was never revealed. You really don't know if any of the accusations were true. Maybe he was told it was easier to plead than go through the court system, which many young people make the mistake in doing, because someone will dig it up later in life and make their own ASSUMPTIONS, particularly if there is a political motive. Shame on you for tarnishing this man without any REAL evidence.

Anonymous said...

I suspect as time goes on, the only people who will talk to you are fellow democrats.

Bernie O'Hare said...

12:54, he pleaded guilty, which is an admission of the criminal behavior:

Anonymous said...

Hey Bernie, Who is Ken in the picture? If just the picture is true then Ken needs to resign as Mayor immediately. We need civil minded individuals in offices of trust. Maybe Ken will reach out to you and explain the accusations or wimp out completely and wish away the Bite of BO.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Ken is in the center.

Anonymous said...

"What bothers you is that I refuse to accept the narratives of fired and disgruntled employees at face value. I'm funny that way."

What bothers you is the people who bring up the failings of your boy McClure and his incompetent yes men at Gracedale. The fish rots from the head down. In this case we have McClure right down to his hand picked Gracedale administrators.

What bothers you is if anyone ever complains about what is happening at Gracedale because McClure has tried to pressure everyone including county council to not openly discuss Gracedale, since he only wants his prepacked presentations.

What you don't like is any criticism of how Gracedale is being managed. It needs s help and it needs to be opened up to public scrutiny. If McClure does not control the story he tries to ensue the story is not told. Council must do its job.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Just deleted an anonymous personal attack aimed at me. I have no problem with a personal attack calling me disbarred or racist, but the other accusations are lies.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Gracedale has been the subject of intense scrutiny by me, Council, an Advisory Board and the state. I just don’t accept at face value the claims of disgruntled and fired employees, who abuse family leave and are dishonest. For example, the claim Lynch made about flyers was actually investigated by DOH and determined tone horseshit

Anonymous said...

The criminal element is rampant across politicians. There those that had been tried and convicted. There are those that were brought up on charges and nothing ever happened because of their connections. There were those that were brought up on charges and got off on a technicality. There were those that should have been brought up on charges but because of their connections they never got charges, And then there were those that should have been arrested but never were because they were connected to deeply. Either way there are so many that are criminals. If we were to actually adhere to the laws instead of letting the police and judicial system looking the other way there would be many that would not be on the loose to fill a political office.

Anonymous said...

Hard to prove without proof. People who knew it was true couldn't talk as they would loose their jobs. Those who did this and bragged about it at least got a warning that they do wrong they will be reported. May not be able to prove it but it was investigated. And it's on record. The name of the person who bragged they did it was given to the DOH. So just can't prove it doesn't mean it didn't happen

Bernie O'Hare said...

Steve Lynch claimed he had the proof, both via video and photograph. Looks like he either lied himself or was misled by the fired and disgruntled workers who abuse family leave. I knew better.

Anonymous said...

The person who reported this was based on reports from present employees that heard the employee brag about doing it. Lynch may have said anything but the complaint was not related to his comments. And no disgruntled employees either. It was present committed employees who know it was wrong and needed to at least report it. The point being an administrative person admitted doing this proudly to other employees who saw it for what is was and reported it

Bernie O'Hare said...

I was at the rally where Lynch claimed to have the goods. He never did and the report is a flat-out lie invented by the fired and disgruntled workers who abuse family leave.

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure BO meant he ignored traffic stops of NorCo's mayors Not the boroughs for which they now chief burgesses.

Anonymous said...

It's pronounced "Stuckertown."

Anonymous said...

Is DC a community one could ramble through here in the Lehigh Valley? Get with the program, Laugh-Out-louder!

Anonymous said...

Ok. He lied. But the event occurred. Reporting he had proof was probably a lie since he didn't act on it. But the employees who heard the person admit to it are good people and not Lynch supporters. Just want the readers here to know the truth

Anonymous said...

I thought this was about the mayor of stockertown? How rude and insulting to bring up something other than what was presented for discussion. Savages

Anonymous said...

I like the blog and the blogster. Crawl back under rock or move along. I for one don't care about your opinion. Rock ���� feel the Bern!

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Ok. He lied. But the event occurred. Reporting he had proof was probably a lie since he didn't act on it. But the employees who heard the person admit to it are good people and not Lynch supporters. Just want the readers here to know the truth."

What's true is that Gracedale workers like Stacy Soldo were fired and have grudges. What's also true is that there is burnout and stress at all nursing homes. If you want my readers to know the truth, you could do the following: (1) You could identify yourself and take responsibility for what you write. You cannot be disciplined for reporting on what constitutes a crime. Moreover, I would make sure that no one touched you. (2) If unwilling to identify yourself, you could name the employees who allegedly heard a member of the Gracedale admin brag about destroying Lynch's mailers. That is a crime, and I would submit those names to the DA. My email is bohare5948@aol.com. (3) If unwilling to name the employees who heard the braggart, you can name the braggart so this person could be interviewed.

I am perfectly willing to believe this happened. In a political campaign, there are always people who destroy signs and engage in this type of illegal behavior. But I need proof. You've given nothing.

Anonymous said...

Are you sure about the facts in the case you wrote about or is this something else? I found online that he was sentenced to 1-3 years incarceration. Police found stolen rims and tires on his vehicle. It doesn't mention car stereos. #confused.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3086400781389107&id=100000576453601

Anonymous said...

10:44 - How do you make those cute little question marks? I'd like to try them out on a few of my comments. Trying to spice things up around here and this might be the ticket.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I have reported accurately what I know. I see nothing to indicated he did 1-3 years or that he is a convicted felon. If you have such information, provide a link. The link you did provide is to his fACEBOOK PAGE.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I know it's his Facebook page. He made a post presumably mocking people who believe he's unfit for office and added a link to Judge Freeburg sentencing him to 1-3 years. Click on the link above and then click on the photos to pull up the article. I don't know if it's a doctored link, but if it is, it's baffling and bizarre as to why Mayor Kenny would post this if not true.

Unknown said...

Exactly how did you obtain any of this info. You are such a worthless person

Bernie O'Hare said...

It is very much a matter of public record. It was quite easy to find on pa docket sheets.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I’ll post your anonymous accusation if you ID yourself.

Anonymous said...

so what your saying is anyone with a criminal background should not be able to better themselves....bernie ur an ass... i operated 2 successful businesses of my own and i oresently am the general manager of large business making a 6 figure salary....and i have a criminal record that dates back 15 years...so fuck off and leave him be mayor obviously a crooked lawyer like ur self with nothing better to do but post toilet paper bullshit don't understand and obviously the great people of stockertown think he is doing a fine job,,,,who are you attemp to ruin his reputation!!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

My job is to make sure people know about him. How they react is up to them. I have no issue with his troubled past. I myself am a disbarred lawyer. What I do have an issue with is his failure to respond and just frankly admit he has a criminal past. It's called accountability.