Two enter guilty pleas

Two persons scheduled for trial this week in Carbon County court instead entered guilty pleas on Monday.

Douglas W. Reynolds, 34, of Brown Mills, N.J., pleaded to one count of unauthorized use of an automobile. He was arrested on May 25, 2008, by state police at Pocono at the turnpike entrance at Hickory Run. Troopers were looking for the van truck he was driving as it was reported stolen out of Montrose, Susquehanna County.

The van belonged to Endless Mountains Health Systems of Montrose.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II accepted the plea and placed Reynolds on probation for two years and ordered he render 20 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.

Nanovic also ordered restitution be paid in the amount that was previously determined in Susquehanna County court where Reynolds was prosecuted for the theft of the van.

Wayne A. Smith Jr., 22, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense. He was arrested on July 18, 2008, by Palmerton police and charged with simple assault and harassment for an incident in which a 10-year-old boy was the listed victim. The assault count was dropped in a plea bargain.

Nanovic imposed a fine of $200 and costs.

ARD placement

Joshua Frey, 21, of Lehighton, was placed in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program for first time offenders.

Frey was arrested on June 3 by Mahoning Township for retail theft for an incident at the Walmart store in which he allegedly took $69.84 worth of merchandise.

He was placed for a year and ordered to pay $450 and costs, get his General Education Diploma (GED), find employment, make restitution to be determined, get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and render 20 hours of community service.

All three defendants must also pay a $50 per month supervison fee.