Carbon County court – drug cases

Two men pleaded guilty in Carbon County court to drug dealing charges.

They were among nine defendants in pending drug-related cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Vehicle stop

John M. Cambria Raygoza, 31, of Coaldale, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

He was arrested on April 21, 2018, following a vehicle stop by Lansford police. Officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and conducted a search. Controlled substances were found.

Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. It was noted Cambria Raygoza faces a prison term at the time of sentencing.

Drug investigation

John Philip Ockenhouse Jr., 29, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance in exchange for a count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

Ockenhouse was arrested on Nov. 17, 2017, by Lehighton police as part of an ongoing drug operation investigation. He was found with methamphetamine.

Serfass sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in the county prison with credit for 365 days already served and paroled him.

Other pleas

Andrew Ronald Ringler, 20, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance — heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and flight to avoid apprehension.

He was arrested on Oct. 12, 2018, by Palmerton police in the 300 block of Delaware Avenue. He was riding a bicycle at the time when police attempted to stop him because he had an active warrant for his arrest. He fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended.

On the possession count he was sentenced to time-served (16 days) to one year in jail; on the paraphernalia charge, six months probation, consecutive to the first count; and one year probation on the flight charge, consecutive to the other counts.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render a total of 150 hours of community service.

Paul Zuzo, 49, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 2, 2018, by Lansford police in the 400 block of West Patterson Street following a vehicle stop. Zuzo was a passenger in the vehicle.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service.

Amanda Jane Hosier, 35, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested by Mahoning Township police following a traffic stop at Mill Road and Mahoning Drive West. She was a passenger in the vehicle.

She was placed on probation for six months, ordered to make restitution of $176 for laboratory testing and render 25 hours of community service.

Thomas Baker, 23, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2018, by Summit Hill police in the 300 block of West White Street following a vehicle stop. He was the driver.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Scott Hinkson, 57, of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Dec. 4, 2018, by state police at Lehighton following the service of a search warrant. Methamphetamine was found in the residence.

Serfass sentenced him to time-served (43 days) to 23 months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 100 hours of community service.

Hinkson is currently an inmate in the Northampton County prison, where he is facing other criminal charges.

Noreen Elmore, 36, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension and retail theft.

She was arrested on Aug. 19, 2018, by Lehighton police at the Dollar General Store along North First Street. Officers responded to a theft report and apprehended Elmore with a stolen purse. She was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and also admitted driving to the store.

On the suspension count she was sentenced to serve 45 to 90 days in jail and pay a fine of $500. She was placed on probation for a year on the drug count, consecutive to the suspension charge. On the retail theft count, a summary, she was fined $300.

The terms run concurrent with a sentence she is currently serving in Northampton County.

Jesse Bryan Roth II, 27, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance — heroin, and driving under suspension. He was arrested on Oct. 18, 2018, by Lehighton police in the 200 block of South Second Street following a traffic stop.

He is currently an inmate in the county prison serving a three- to six-month prison term.

Serfass told Roth, “It’s time for you to grow up.”

On the drug charge, Serfass placed him on probation for a year, consecutive to his current sentence, and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service. On the suspension count he was fined $500.

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