Alleged election board disruptor sentenced to rehab probation

WILKES-BARRE — A Plains Township man accused of disrupting a Luzerne County Election Board meeting while involved in a verbal clash spurred by a board member was sentenced to probation on Wednesday.

Joseph Granteed, 69, of Enterprise Street, and his attorney, Matthew T. Muckler, appeared before Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge David W. Lupas, where misdemeanor counts of disrupting a meeting and disorderly conduct were held in abeyance pending completion of 12 months in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program with no conditions and waiver of all associated fees. The ARD program is for first-time, non-violent offenders and allows their criminal records to be expunged upon successful completion.

Assistant District Attorney Allyson L. Kacmarski withdrew a summary harassment offense against Granteed.

A video of the March 19, 2025, meeting showed Granteed addressing the election board, and Election Board Chairman Christine Boyle told him his three minutes of public speaking were up and to sit down. Granteed made several remarks directed at election board member Rick Morelli as he walked away from the podium to a seat, as Boyle told him he was “out of order.” In response, Morelli directed comments at Granteed, who was seated at the time.



https://www.timesleader.com/news/1733114/alleged-election-board-disruptor-sentenced-to-rehab-probation