Carbon County court – drug counts

A total of 11 defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted pleas from the following:

Amber Sue Fatzinger, 34, of Sugarloaf, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, diazepam. She was arrested on July 25, 2017, by Lehighton police following a traffic stop along Route 443.

She also entered a plea to retail theft for an incident on Dec. 24, 2015, in the Walmart store in Mahoning Township. She was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it for violating conditions.

Matika placed her on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and stay out of the Walmart store.

Kevin M. Horvath, 41, of Lehighton, pleaded in two pending cases. He pleaded to one count each of possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and defiant trespass for an incident on May 15, 2018, at a residence along East Lizard Creek Road in East Penn Township.

In the second case, he pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance for an incident on the same day as the first incident. When taken to the county prison, drugs were found on him. In exchange for the plea in the second case, a felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance was dropped by the DA.

Sentencing was deferred.

Jamie L. Lansberry, 36, of Altoona, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, marijuana; possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was arrested on Sept. 4, 2018, following a traffic stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge.

Sentencing was deferred. She is currently an inmate in the Blair County prison on other charges.

Chad R. Mack, 29, of Aquashicola, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Dec. 31, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along East Lizard Creek Road in East Penn Township.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Bobbi Jo Filer, 46, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on April 5, 2017, by Lansford police. In exchange for the plea two counts of possession of a controlled substance were dropped by the district attorney’s office.

Matika placed her on probation for six months and ordered she get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.

Andrew J. Arnold, 30, of Brodheadsville, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Jan. 16 by state police at Lehighton on Dairy Road at Fireline Road in Lower Towamensing Township following a traffic stop.

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

Corey A. Young, 21, of Emmaus, was arrested along with Arnold during a traffic stop. He pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered he render 25 hours of community service.

Mitchell Robert Brislin, 28, of Tresckow, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on June 19, 2018, by state police at Hazleton in the area of North Chestnut Street in Banks Township.

Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.

Kyle Mason Knauss, 23, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on March 17 by Palmerton police in the 500 block of Delaware Avenue.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Thomas Edward Wise, 32, of Blakeslee, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Dec. 23, 2018, in the Holiday Pocono development by Kidder Township police.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and render 50 hours of community service.

Marcos Antonio Perez Jr., 28, of Lansford, pleaded in two pending cases to two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 20, 2018, by Palmerton police along Route 248 eastbound and on Jan. 11 by Lansford police along East Kline Avenue.

He was placed on probation for a year on each count, with the terms running concurrently, and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.

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