WILKES-BARRE — A Pittston man received a reduction of time in state prison when he was resentenced Thursday for possessing child sexual abuse materials.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court in February ordered a new hearing for Paul Andrew Schell, 39, formerly of Stark Street, as the appellate court determined an error was made by a former assistant district attorney when calculating the length of time he must register as a sexual offender under the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Here’s a breakdown of Schell’s case:
- June 9, 2022: Schell was arrested by detectives with the district attorney’s office who investigated several Cyber tips traced to his residence.
- Nov. 14, 2022: Under terms of a plea agreement, Schell pled guilty to 75 counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials and 24 counts of dissemination of photo or film of children involved in sex acts. Plea agreement involved Schell to register his address for 15 years as a sex offender.
- Feb. 23, 2023: Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky sentenced Schell to three-to-six years in state prison, 10 years probation, and ordered Schell to register his address for 15 years.
- March 3, 2023: An assistant district attorney filed a petition to amend Schell’s sentence to include 25 year registration.
- March 8, 2023: Sklarosky denied the petition by the assistant district attorney to modify Schell’s sentence.
- April 6, 2023: Sklarosky vacated his March 8, 2023, order, and granted the petition that required Schell to register for 25 years.
- March 8, 2024: Schell filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Superior Court claiming the plea agreement did not involve a 25 year registration but 15 year registration.
- Feb. 25, 2025: A three-member panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court in a 13-page opinion vacated Schell’s sentence and ordered a new hearing, allowing Schell, represented by Attorney Leonard M. Gryskewicz Jr., to either enter a new plea agreement or opt for a trial. The appellate court noted a conviction of possessing child sexual abuse materials – which falls under the sexual abuse of children statute – calls for 25 year registration. Due to the error in the Nov. 14, 2022, plea agreement for Schell to register for 15 years, the negotiated plea agreement must stand, the appellate court ruled.
- May 22, 2025: Schell pled guilty to 75 counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials in a new plea agreement. Prosecutors withdraw 24 counts of dissemination of of photo or film of children involved in sex acts. Plea agreement honored the 15 year registration.
- Aug. 14, 2025: Sklarosky re-sentences Schell to 18 months-to-five years in prison, followed by seven years probation, and imposed the 15 year registration. Schell given 1,162 days credit of time served.
During Thursday’s sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Carly Levandowski acknowledged the error by the former assistant district attorney.