After 10 Months of Delay, Charges Against Easton Activist Lance Wheeler Dismissed

Wheeler returned to donation drive
after his arrest

Easton activist Lance Wheeler was arrested by Wilson Borough police on May 31 while conducting a donation drive for the Ferry Street fire victims. Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana was there, shot a video of the actual arrest, and said she was outraged. Wheeler insisted on being cuffed and led away, even though he had previously been given several opportunities to surrender voluntarily. He wanted a show and could be heard blaming both DA Terry Houck and Easton Mayor Sal Panto as he was walked to a waiting police cruiser. According to both Lehigh Valley Live and Lehigh Valley News Wheeler allegedly threatened three students while driving a Wilson Area School District van. After nearly 10 months of delay, the charges against Wheeler were dismissed yesterday by Magisterial District Judge Alan Mege after the victims failed to appear. 

Preliminary hearings had been scheduled in this case for June 21, July 11, August 23, October 20, November 30, January 19 and yesterday. All but yesterday's hearing were continued. Interestingly, Wheeler's lawyer, Glennis Clark, also represented some of the Commonwealth witnesses who appeared before the Grand Jury. 

You won't see Lance's name on any campaign finance reports, but it's no secret that he was a big Baratta backer. He took Steve through Easton's west ward, introducing him to voters. He also introduced Baratta to one of the warring factions in the Sikh Temple dispute in Lower Nazareth Tp. Wheeler provided security there.   

Wheeler told me believed his arrest was politically motivated because he supported Steve Baratta for DA and is the person who encouraged the Sikhs in Lower Nazareth to reach out to him. He also blamed Easton Mayor Sal Panto, although I'm unsure how Panto can issue orders to Wilson Borough police. 

At one appearance, I'm told Wheeler shouted out to prosecutors and detectives that they'd be gone next month. Not long after that, one of the detectives and prosecutors involved received a letter from Baratta telling them to have their personal belongings out of the courthouse by January 2. 

Under Pennsylvania law, the District Attorney has the authority to refile charges dismissed at a preliminary hearing. Double jeopardy is inapplicable at that point. Whether Baratta and Wilson Borough police want to pursue a case with reluctant victims seems unlikely. 

Although Wheeler told me his arrest was politically inspired, he's now telling The Morning Call he was arrested because he's black. "My thoughts are with Lance and many other people of color who have encountered systemic racism leading to injustice," added state house candidate Taiba Sultana.

Interestingly, Lance's alleged victims happen to be black. 

What's Going on in the Lance Wheeler Case?

Wheeler returned to donation drive
after his arrest

According to both Lehigh Valley Live and Lehigh Valley News. Lance Wheeler was arrested by Wilson Borough police on May 31 while conducting a donation drive for the Ferry Street fire victims. Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana was there, shot a video of the actual arrest, and said she was outraged. For his part, Wheeler insisted on being cuffed and led away, even though he had previously been given several opportunities to surrender voluntarily. He wanted a show, and could be heard blaming both DA Terry Houck and Easton Mayor Sal Panto.  According to the news accounts, the arrest stems from an incident last August, when Wheeler allegedly threatened three students while driving a Wilson Area School District van. What's happened since Wheeler's arrest? Nothing. 

Preliminary hearings have been scheduled in this case for June 21, July 11, August 23, October 20 and November 30. They've all been continued. Wheeler's lawyer, Glennis Clark, also represented some of the Commonwealth witnesses who appeared before the Grand Jury. This raised the possibility of a conflict, and that question was booted to President Judge Craig Dally. 

Is Wheeler stringing this case out, hoping for more favorable winds when Steve Baratta is sworn in as District Attorney?  You won't see Lance's name on any campaign finance reports, but it's no secret that he was a big Baratta backer. He took Steve through Easton's west ward, introducing him to voters. He also introduced Baratta to one of the warring factions in the Sikh Temple dispute in Lower Nazareth Tp. Wheeler provided security there.   

Wheeler told me believed his arrest was politically motivated because he supported Steve Baratta for DA, and is the person who encouraged the Sikhs in Lower Nazareth to reach out to him. He also blamed Easton Mayor Sal Panto, although I'm unsure how Panto can issue orders to Wilson Borough police. 

At his most recent appearance, I'm told Wheeler shouted out to prosecutors and detectives that they'd be gone next month. Not long after that, one of the detectives and prosecutors involved received a letter from Baratta telling them to have their personal belongings out of the courthouse by January 2. 

When I spoke to Baratta this week, he told me he knew nothing about the Wheeler case. I have no reason to doubt him or his personal integrity But Wheeler's alleged remarks, which I only learned about yesterday, combined with his active support for Baratta, raises a serious concern whether Baratta should handle the prosecution or have the state attorney general oversee the case. 

"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion." The same is true of Baratta.

Lance Wheeler Discloses PFA at NorCo Council Meeting

In June, Easton activist and constable Lance Wheeler was arrested by Wilson Borough police and charged with threatening three juveniles while driving a school van. He was  nabbed in the middle of a donation drive for fire victims, which outraged a lot of the people there. That's exactly what Lance wanted. He told me himself that he was given the option of turning himself in and refused. He also told me his arrest was political retaliation by both Easton Mayor Sal Panto and DA Terry Houck. 

Now, while his case is pending, he appeared before Northampton County Council last week to complain about his support. In the process, he volunteered that he is subject to a preliminary (not final) Protection From Abuse Act Order for allegations of abuse made by his children. He also admitted that he failed to bring paperwork concerning his earnings. But he claimed his ex-wife had them, and contends she used her influence as a county worker to get them. 

I contacted his ex-wife, who was none too happy to hear from me. She declined to discuss the matter, but denied that she abused her position as a county worker in any way. He's angry that Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron failed to return a call Wheeler made to him on Monday night and that Administrator Charles Dertinger "blew me off" on Tuesday. But he also paraphrased conversations he had with both. "Charles Dertinger played me like a clown," he insisted, claiming he is a "target of something."

He suggested that the county can take his social security number and determine his earnings. 

Interestingly, after the PFA Order was entered against Wheeler, he was allowed to keep his guns because he's a constable. He might be an elected constable, but is no longer certified. This means he's unable to work for magisterial district judges. 

Lance's behavior has grown increasingly erratic and paranoid. He's lost a considerable amount of weight and is no longer the happy-go-lucky guy we all used to see. If anyone should lose his guns for awhile, it should be Lance. 

Easton Activist and Constable Claims Arrest Is Politically Motrivated

Wheeler returned to donation drive
after his arrest

According to both Lehigh Valley Live and Lehigh Valley News. Lance Wheeler was arrested by Wilson Borough police on Wednesday while conducting a donation drive for the Ferry Street fire victims. Council member Taiba Sultana was there, and has a video of the actual arrest. According to the news accounts, the arrest stems from an incident last August, when Wheeler allegedly threatened three students while driving a school van. 

Wheeler is a well-known, long-time Easton activist, the former President of Easton NAACP, a constable, and has often been called the Mayor of the West Ward. He finished short in his bid for City Council in May, but tells me he won the west ward. 

When I saw Wheeler at the candidates' night at Easton South Side Civic Ass'n, he was far from his usual affable self. He started sparring with Mayor Sal Panto and told people he had no desire to win. He was gaunt and seemed rattled. In fact, I was so concerned that I called him afterwards to ask if he's OK. 

I called him again yesterday after I learned of his arrest, and he admitted this sword of Damocles has been hanging over his head for nearly a year.  "If it happened the way they're saying, why wasn't I arrested last year?" he asked several times. 

He believes his arrest is politically motivated because he supported Steve Baratta for DA, and is the person who encouraged the Sikhs in Lower Nazareth to reach out to him. He also blames Easton Mayor Sal Panto. 

He told me he's represented by Glennis Clark, a well-known and highly respected Allentown attorney. 

Why did this case take so long to investigate? We know this investigation was conducted by a small police department. We know there was school bus video and audio to retrieve and review. We know there was a need to interview at least four juveniles, presumably with their parents, and school district officials. Wheeler told me that witnesses, including his nephew, were called to testify before a grand jury.  He also told me one of the children he was driving was autistic, yet the school district provided no aide. We know that authorities should take allegations of child abuse seriously. 

When Wheeler has his preliminary hearing, we'll know why this case took as long as it did to investigate and whether it was politically motivated or a law enforcement response to someone who actually may have attempted to persuade his nephew to assault these juveniles.  Until then, we should refrain from speculation. 

Courts Waste No Time Replacing Lead Court Deputy Lance Wheeler

On Tuesday, the Express Times scooped us all with a report that lead court officer Lance Wheeler, a courthouse fixture, had been unceremoniously dumped by Court Administrator James Onembo. I've learned since that Wheeler was replaced, almost immediately, by Deputy Sheriff Chris Fegley. The position was never posted for applications by other courthouse workers, but I understand that this is no requirement for a judicial employee.

It's who you know.

Fegley is a former Allentown police officer who retired in late 2006. In his final month in Allentown, he packed in 51.5 hours of overtime. This final month is what determined his pension, which turned out to be $54,619 on a salary of $48,768.

Depending on when he was hired as a Northampton County Deputy Sheriff, he might be eligible for a second pension.

Over the months before his termination, there was increasing friction between Onembo and Wheeler. One of Wheeler's two daughters, Makaeya Lynn, has MLD, a rare and incurable disorder that attacks the nervous system. muscles and organs. Onembo was upset at the frequent absences and fundraising, while Wheeler was disturbed by Onembo's seeming insensitivity.

Wheeler served at the pleasure of the Court, as an at-will employee. Some say he was let go because of his work as an elected constable, but the judges themselves gave work to Wheeler as a constable. Something else is going on.

It appears that Onembo is the person who fired Wheeler, who was afforded no meeting with President Judge H.P. Kimberly McFadden. It would seem to me that a person who works for the courts, even as an at-will employee, is still a public employee and should be afforded a meeting with his real boss before being given the axe.

It's called due process.