A former Laflin resident who admitted shooting up a neighbor’s home with a high-powered rifle was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to two years in jail but was granted immediate parole to serve out his time on house arrest.
Robert J. Nasternak, 73, previously pleaded guilty to a felony charge of shooting into an occupied structure and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment.
Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. imposed the sentence of one to two years at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility followed by five years of probation. Because Nasternak had already served his minimum sentence, the judge granted him immediate parole and ordered him to serve the balance on house arrest with electronic monitoring.
In imposing the sentence, Sklarosky noted that Nasternak suffers from mental health issues — his attorney said he has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.
“Rarely is there such a clear connection between a mental health condition being not treated and an incident such as this,” Sklarosky said.
According to prosecutors, Nasternak opened fire on his neighbors’ property at 69 Laflin Road on the morning of June 16, 2025. Gunshots hit the victims’ house as well as a Toyota SUV.
Nasternak later admitted shooting up the home with a .308-caliber rifle after having a dream that his neighbors, with whom he had issues in the past, wanted to hurt him, according to prosecutors.
In court Tuesday, Nasternak offered a brief apology for his conduct.
“I’m very sorry this happened,” he said. “Nothing like this will ever happen again.”
Attorney Justin Richards, whose firm Elliott, Greenleaf & Dean represents the victim, said the apology “rings hollow” for the 87-year-old woman who was traumatized by the experience.
“This was something that was wholly traumatic,” Richards said. “It was egregious conduct and it has put (the victim) in a world of suffering since that day.”
Defense attorney Frank Nocito said Nasternak is remorseful for his conduct and has been getting mental health treatment and has been medicated for schizoaffective disorder since the episode.
Although Nasternak had a similar incident when he fired a gunshot at his aunt’s house in the 1980s, he had gone for about 35 years with a repeat occurrence while medicated, he said.
“When he stayed on his meds, your honor, he was stable,” Nocito told the court, describing Nasternak as being delusional during the shooting. “He was basically unmedicated after decades of stability.”
He added that Nasternak now resides at the Above & Beyond Senior Living assisted living facility in Allentown and “will not be returning” to Laflin. Nocito requested a probationary sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Anthony Cardone agreed that the case was unique due to Nasternak’s mental health issues but said he thought incarceration was warranted due to the seriousness of the crime.
“There were five shots fired,” Cardone said. “It was one of the most traumatic mornings of her life.”
Prior to imposing the sentence, Sklarosky called the situation “a very difficult case” due to Nasternak’s mental health concerns. As part of Nasternak’s sentence, the judge ordered him not to have any contact with the victim.
Nasternak be allowed to serve his probation at his current residence in Lehigh County, the judge said.