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First Posted: 5/18/2010

By Edward Lewis [email protected] Writer
PLAINS TWP. – An area defense attorney well-known for going on the offensive during court hearings switched roles to a prosecutor on Monday during the second of two preliminary hearings for the same incident.

Joseph Sklarosky Sr. defended Larissa Goldstein, 28, of Plains Township, on burglary and simple assault charges. She was charged with attacking Sherry Rizzo, 25, on March 6.
He then acted as prosecutor for Goldstein’s private complaint accusing Rizzo of harassment.
The separate hearings unfolded before District Judge Diana Malast, who ruled prosecutors established a case against Goldstein, sending charges of burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault and two summary offenses to county court. Malast dismissed Goldstein’s harassment claim against Rizzo.
The Wilkes-Barre Area School District suspended the art teacher at Solomon/Plains Memorial Junior High School shortly after police filed the charges.
Under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Shannon Crake, Rizzo testified she and her boyfriend, Fabian Thomas, 26, arrived home at their West Hollenback Street apartment when Goldstein pulled up behind them. The couple said Goldstein shouted racial slurs and obscenities, blaming them for hiding her boyfriend.
Rizzo and Thomas said they ignored Goldstein and went inside. Minutes later, Rizzo testified, Goldstein entered uninvited and struck Rizzo when she called 911.
“She swung and hit me in the face,” Rizzo said. “We fought on the floor.”
Thomas testified Goldstein grabbed his beard before hitting Rizzo.
Rizzo said Thomas jumped over them and left the apartment as the two women fought on the floor. During the fight, Rizzo said, her pit bull bit Goldstein before Thomas reentered the apartment and kicked the dog away.
Officer Dan Lewis testified Goldstein was intoxicated and shouting obscenities. “She was out of control, banging her head on the divider” (inside the police cruiser), Lewis said.
Responding to questions from Sklarosky, Lewis said the only injuries he saw on Goldstein were on her arm.
“She said she was bitten by a human,” Lewis said.
After the hearing on the criminal charges, Sklarosky prosecuted Rizzo on the harassment allegation filed by Goldstein.
Sklarosky provided at least 12 photographs showing injuries to Goldstein allegedly suffered during the fight with Rizzo. He also provided comments Rizzo posted on her Facebook page boasting about getting the better of Goldstein.
In her Facebook comment, Rizzo wrote she beat Goldstein for 20 minutes and had her pit bull attack Goldstein.
Goldstein said she never walked uninvited into Rizzo’s apartment and never physically assaulted anyone. She remains free on $20,000 unsecured bail.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.