Carbon County court – drug cases
A Summit Hill man pleaded guilty on Thursday in Carbon County court to drug counts in two pending cases and was sentenced to a prison term.
He was one of three defendants in pending drug-related cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.
Lansford incidents
Joseph T. Gindhart Jr., 33, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The two incidents occurred in Lansford.
The first incident occurred on Oct. 10, 2018, in the 400 block of West Patterson Street during a vehicle stop by borough police. Gindhart was found with controlled substances. He was a rear seat passenger in the vehicle.
The second arrest occurred on Oct. 25, 2018, along Ridge Street where police responded to a suspicious vehicle report.
Gindhart is currently an inmate in the county prison facing additional charges.
Serfass sentenced him to serve two to 12 months in prison on the first count and one to 12 months on the second, with the terms running concurrently. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render a total of 75 hours of community service.
He was given credit for four days spent in jail to date on the charges.
Other pleas
Mitchell Andrew Peters, 22, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a prohibitive offense weapon — brass knuckles.
He was arrested on Aug. 10, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop at Route 903 and Old Stage Road in Penn Forest Township. Heroin was the drug involved.
Serfass deferred sentencing so Peters can secure paperwork showing the time he has spent in an inpatient rehabilitation program.
Brooke Lee Huntington, 41, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance.
She was arrested on July 19, 2018, behind the Dunkin’ Donuts building on East Bridge Street in Lehighton. Police found several people in the area and knew there was an active warrant for Huntington’s arrest. While taking her into custody, drugs were found.
Serfass placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.
Huntington is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison facing a parole violation charge and has pending charges in Carbon County.
