Palmerton man given jail term for assault incident

A Palmerton resident was sentenced to a county prison term Monday for an assault incident in his hometown. A Summit Hill resident also was sentenced to a jail term for drunk driving.

Michael Paul Wallace, 27, was sentenced by Senior Judge Richard W. Webb to serve 11 to 23 months on a charge of aggravated assault and three to 23 months for resisting arrest. The terms run concurrently.

Wallace was arrested for an incident on July 30, 2009, at 238 Avenue A.

Police responded to the residence for a domestic incident in which Lisa Depriest was the victim. Officer Robert Hontz attempted to take Wallace into custody and he resisted.

In addition to the jail term Webb ordered Wallace to get both a drug and alcohol (D&A) and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendation for treatment; zero tolerance on D&A use; supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee; and was made eligible for the re-entry program. He was given credit for 115 days spent in jail on the charges.

DUI case

James Arthur Nelson, 41, of Summit Hill, was sentenced to serve 90 days to 18 months in prison for driving under the influence (DUI). He was arrested on July 2, 2009, along SR209 in Franklin Township. Given a test, the result was .13BAC.

Webb also ordered Nelson to pay a fine of $1,500; license suspended for 18 months; get a D&A evaluation; and was granted work release privileges.

He will begin the jail term on Friday, Feb. 5, at 5 p.m.

Both defendants must pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee.