DUI, Drug and Traffic Charges Filed Against Howard Man, Potter County

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Coudersport, Pa. – A Howard, Pennsylvania resident, William John Kitchen Jr., was charged with a series of alcohol‑related and traffic offenses following an incident on July 25, 2026. The case, docket number MJ-55301-CR-0000059-2026, is pending in Magisterial District Court 55‑3‑01 and is currently listed as active, awaiting a preliminary hearing.

Case details
Judge Bryan D. Phelps assigned the matter on August 13, 2026, and the criminal complaint was filed on August 20, 2026. The filing lists the defendant’s date of birth as January 2, 1988, and his home address as Howard, PA 17751. Kitchen was fingerprinted at the time of processing, but no arrest date or specific arresting agency was identified; the docket simply notes the agency as “Other.”

Charges
Kitchen faces twelve separate counts, all stemming from the July 25, 2026 incident. The charges, with full Pennsylvania statutory citations, are as follows:

• 18 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a)(1) – Driving under the influence/unsafe driving (M DUI/UNSAFE DRIVING)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 3802(b) – DUI with blood alcohol concentration .10%‑.16% (M DUI/BAC .10%‑.16%)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 3802(d)(3) – Driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance (M DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL/CONTROLLED SUB)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 780‑113(a)(32) – Use or possession of drug paraphernalia (M USE/POSS OF DRUG PARAPH)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 780‑113(a)(16) – Intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered (M INT POSS CONTR SUBST BY PER NOT REG)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302(a)(1) – Failure to require lighted lamps during sunset and sunrise (S PERIOD FOR REQUIRING LIGHTED LAMPS – SUNSET AND SUNRISE)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 3309(1) – Driving on a roadway lane designated for traffic – single lane violation (S DRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC – SINGLE)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 6308(a) – Investigation by police officers – duty of operator/pedestrian (S INVESTIGATION BY POLICE OFFICERS – DUTY OF OPERATOR /PEDESTRIAN)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 1311(b) – Failure to carry registration (S FAIL TO CARRY REGIST)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 3714(a) – Careless driving – general rule (S CARELESS DRIVING – GENERAL RULE)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 3736(a) – Reckless driving (S RECKLESS DRIVING)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 4581(a)(2)(ii)(A) – Restraint systems – other vehicle (S RESTRAINT SYSTEMS – OTHER VEHICLE)

Prosecution
The Potter County District Attorney’s Office, located at 1 North Main Street, Gunzburger Building, Suite 215, Coudersport, PA 16915, is representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No public defender was requested, and the defendant has not entered a plea at this stage.

Current status
As of the latest entry on August 20, 2026, the case remains active with a status of “Awaiting Preliminary Hearing.” No bail amount, fines, costs, or restitution have been set, and no disposition has been entered.

The presumption of innocence remains in effect while the Commonwealth prepares for the upcoming preliminary hearing. All further developments will be reported as the case progresses.

This article was generated based on publicly available court docket information. While we strive for accuracy, the content may contain errors or omissions. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For official court records and legal guidance, please consult the appropriate court or legal professional.