JERSEY SHORE — A number of charges involving Jersey Shore area residents were brought before Lycoming County District Judge Denise Dieter. They include the following:

Jersey Shore man charged with child endangerment

Lycoming Regional police have charged 36-year-old Rian Merrill, of 1434 Locust St., Jersey Shore, with simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and harassment after he allegedly smacked his 8-year-old son on April 13, 2026, according to court documents.

The alleged victim stated that, following baseball practice, Merrill instructed him to complete some house chores, after which he allegedly smacked the youth in the face several times as punishment for a comment he made to another teammate.

The left side of the alleged victim’s face displayed swelling and redness, police said in an affidavit.

Merrill allegedly admitted to smacking the child twice, stating that he did so after he had made remarks to another child during practice.

Originally, he was going to ground him from his video game system, however, when the alleged victim lied to Merrill about completing his chores, he lost control, Merrill allegedly told police, adding that although he couldn’t be sure how hard he struck the alleged victim, he gauged it to be around a seven out of ten.

Merrill was arraigned on the charges by Dieter.

Jersey Shore man hit with simple assault charge

Steven Ray Barner, Jr., 35, of 286 Hill St., Jersey Shore, faces charges of simple assault and harassment after he allegedly struck an alleged victim on May 7, 2026, a Lycoming Regional police affidavit said.

The incident began when the alleged victim stated that she wanted to lay down for a while, at which point, Barner got “mean and nasty,” she told police.

The alleged victim then went outside and began dumping items out of Barner’s truck. It was then that she felt a hard item bounce and strike her in the left thigh.

Barner’s account largely mirrored that of the alleged victim, however he stated it was her who “went crazy” when he did not wish to lay down. He did admit to throwing a blunt object at the alleged victim, according to court documents.

Police observed a large bruise and swelling on her thigh, they said in court filings.

Barner was arraigned by Dieter, and remanded to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Theft charges levied against Jersey Shore man

A Jersey Shore man faces theft-related charges after he allegedly removed $336.06-worth of merchandise from Weis Markets along Allegheny Street in Jersey Shore without paying for them between Dec. 26, 2025, and March 12, 2026.

Frank George Oppedisano, 61, of 30 Mallard Lane, Jersey Shore, allegedly stole beer, donuts, cat litter and soda, among others, and was identified via his Weis Shopper’s Club card, Lycoming Regional police said.

Oppedisano has had prior encounters with police, including a prior retail theft conviction, an affidavit said.

He was arraigned on charges of retail theft and receiving stolen property by Dieter.