Carbon County court – drug cases

Three defendants who previously admitted to drug dealing charges were sentenced on Friday in Carbon County court.

Judge Steven R. Serfass imposed prison terms in each case.

Jim Thorpe arrest

Caleb Joseph Herman, 28, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced to time-served (144 days) to one day less 24 months on a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, heroin. The jail term will be followed by two years of probation.

He was arrested following an ongoing investigation by borough police and the county drug task force into drug dealing in the borough. Police learned that Herman and his wife, Allison M. Herman, 31, both of the 600 block of Center Street, had gone to Hazleton on Sept. 11, 2017, to secure heroin. Upon their return, police made a vehicle stop. Police found 53 wax baggies of heroin in the vehicle.

Herman said of his arrest, “This actually saved my life. I was going in a downward spiral.”

Defense Attorney Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said Herman spent 52 days in an inpatient rehabilitation program along with 90 days in prison on the charges in asking for a time-served sentence.

Herman also previously pleaded to a driving under the influence charge filed by state police at Lehighton for an incident on July 4, 2016. He had been placed in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it due to the drug charge. On the DUI count Serfass sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension. The jail term runs concurrent with the drug count.

Serfass also ordered Herman to supply a DNA sample, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, get a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation and render a total of 225 hours of community service.

Allison Herman was placed in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on the charges filed against her in the case.

Nesquehoning arrest

Terence L. Moore, 30, of Newry, Blair County, and formerly of Lansford, was sentenced to serve nine to one day less 24 months in the county prison followed by two years of probation on a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Moore and Anthony Steven Thorpe, 30, of Stock Street, Nesquehoning, were arrested and charged on June 30, 2017.

Moore was originally charged with possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under a suspended license and criminal use of communication facility. All the charges except the PWID were dropped in a plea bargain.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Nesquehoning officer Timothy Wuttke, on June 30, the Carbon County detective contacted the department in regard to an ongoing investigation that started earlier in the day during a traffic stop in Lansford.

During that stop, Chief Sean Smith said on June 30 that the occupants of that vehicle, who have not yet been named, provided information that led police to the parking lot of Redner’s Warehouse Market.

The affidavit states Moore was at Redner’s for the purpose of selling methamphetamine to a witness in the store. Moore was reportedly communicating with the witness via Facebook Messenger.

The county detective and Jim Thorpe police conducted surveillance at Redner’s and identified Moore in a Chevrolet Silverado, as well as another man, later identified as Thorpe, in the passenger seat.

Nesquehoning police arrived at Redner’s and stopped Moore as he was walking into the store, while other officials detained Thorpe in the truck. The charges were later filed.

Serfass also ordered Moore to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample and render 200 hours of community service.

Moore spent time in the Salvation Army drug treatment inpatient program. He praised the program and said it made him see the things he was doing and where he was going with his addiction.

Serfass gave Moore credit for 178 days spent in the Salvation Army program and 97 days in jail for a total of 275 days and paroled him.

Thorpe was previously sentenced for his part in the investigation and eventual arrest.

Two cases

Charles William Wiley, 34, of Kunkletown, was sentenced to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison on a charge of criminal use of a communication facility. On a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana he was fined $300.

He was charged in connection with two pending cases.

He was arrested on the first count on March 13, 2016, by Mahoning Township police along Route 443 near the Pizza Hut restaurant. A charge of possession with intent to deliver was dropped in a plea bargain. The second arrest occurred on Oct. 7, 2016, in Jim Thorpe.

Serfass also ordered zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, and ordered Wiley to supply a DNA sample and render 150 hours of community service.

He was given credit for seven days spent in prison on the charge. He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Feb. 5. He was granted work-release privileges.

The three defendants must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.