COURT Man who illegally gained painkillers is sentenced

Several others were sentenced Friday as well.
MERCER, Pa. -- A West Middlesex man was given a prison term Friday for three felony counts of presenting fraudulent prescriptions at local pharmacies to obtain drugs.
Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge John Reed sentenced Michael Murcko, 42, of Mercer-West Middlesex Road, to one to two years for obtaining OxyContin and an additional one to two years for obtaining Percocet from two Hermitage pharmacies and making an unsuccessful attempt at a third pharmacy. The crimes took place in October of 2003 and June and July of 2004.
Murcko's term will be followed by 36 months' probation.
Others
Several others were also sentenced Friday. According to court documents:
UTimothy Bowman, 20, of McKeesport, was placed on three years' probation and ordered to make restitution for theft by unlawful taking and false reports, both misdemeanors. On Oct. 23, 2004, he burglarized an apartment on Pitt Street in Sharon, taking movies, jewelry, computer games a computer, a digital camera and other items worth a total $10,800. He also filed a false report that his apartment was burglarized.
UMelissa LaRosa, 26, of Mitchell Road, West Middlesex, was placed on 12 months' probation and ordered to make restitution for a misdemeanor count of forgery. On Oct. 30, 2004, when stopped for a stop sign violation, she gave a false name to police.
UCarl Porterfield, 28, of South Oakland Avenue, Sharon, was placed on two years' probation and ordered to make restitution for simple assault, a misdemeanor. On Oct. 9, 2004, he punched a man at a Fifth Avenue, Sharon, residence.
UKenyon Short, 21, of South Center Street, Grove City, was sentenced to one to two years in prison followed by 24 months' probation and ordered to make restitution for possession with intent to deliver cocaine, a felony. On May 13, 2004, Short was apprehended in a parking lot on Grace Street, Grove City, with approximately 9 grams of cocaine.
UMark Taub, 37, of Rebecca Street, New Castle, was sentenced to two months to a year in jail followed by four years' probation for corruption of minors, a misdemeanor. Between January and May 2004, he showered in the nude with an 11-year old girl at a Hermitage residence. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim or her siblings.
UCharles Burgess, 31, address given as Armstrong County Jail, Kittanning, was sentenced to 30 days to six months in jail followed by 36 months' probation for conspiracy to retail theft, a misdemeanor. On Jan. 18, 2000, he conspired with three other people to steal a computer, monitor and game equipment valued at $1,098 from Wal-Mart on state Route 58, Pine Township.