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By Roger DuPuis
A Jenkins Township man has been paroled after serving his six-month minimum sentence in the 2013 Mother’s Day crash death of a woman outside her Westminster Drive home.
John Michael Kuniskas, 38, pleaded guilty in December to involuntary manslaughter and attempted evidence tampering, on the same day a jury was scheduled to be selected for his trial.
Kuniskas could have faced three to six years in state prison if a jury convicted him in the vehicular homicide death of Jean Darsky, 65.
Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. sentenced Kuniskas to serve six months to a year in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, followed by three years’ probation. Kuniskas also was granted work release, allowing him to maintain employment while he served his sentence, which began Dec. 27.
Sklarosky on Monday signed an order granting Kuniskas immediate parole upon completion of his minimum sentence.
Prosecutors alleged that Kuniskas was texting when he struck Darsky, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Under the plea deal, prosecutors withdrew charges of homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death, texting while driving and three vehicle summary violations against Kuniskas.
A civil wrongful death lawsuit filed against Kuniskas settled out-of-court with his insurance carrier, Erie Insurance Exchange, in January 2014 for $1.3 million. Under the settlement, Darsky’s estate was to receive $844,606 with $462,392 going to the law firm Fellerman & Ciarimboli.
Roger DuPuis may be reached at 570-991-6113 or on Twitter @rogerdupuis2.