Carbon County court — drug cases

Eight defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas on Monday in Carbon County court.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the pleas from the following:

Vehicle stop

Dimarkior Amir Graham, 22, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — Xanax.

Graham was arrested on June 15 by Lansford police following a traffic stop. The police report indicates officers found 17.92 grams of suspended crystal methamphetamine, 79 Xanax pills and $545 in cash. In a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office, other drug charges were dropped.

Graham, an inmate in the county prison since his arrest, told the court, “I made a bad decision that kept me away from my family.” Matika told him he now has a felony offense on his record at a young age that will follow him the rest of his life.

Matika sentenced him to serve two to 18 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample and render 75 hours of community service. He was given credit for 67 days already served on the charge and paroled.

Other pleas

Wash Tyahla, 54, of Nesquehoning, entered guilty pleas in two pending cases to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property. In exchange for the plea, a third case, involving a charge of possession of a prescription bottle with the branding removed, was dropped.

Tyahla was arrested on the drug count on March 31 by Nesquehoning police. The receiving count stems from an April 12 incident filed by Nesquehoning police.

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

Thomas Worthy Painter, 23, of Glen Lyon, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance — heroin. He was arrested following a traffic stop along the turnpike in Kidder Township by state police at the Pocono barracks. He also pleaded to driving under suspension — DUI related.

Painter is currently an inmate in the Luzerne County prison serving a probation violation term. He said he has five more months to serve.

Matika sentenced him to serve two to 12 months in prison on the drug count and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service. On the suspension count he was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 days in jail, but must serve the full 60 days, and pay a fine of $500. The two terms run concurrent with each other and concurrent with Luzerne County sentence.

Charles Shuck Jr., 46, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia in exchange for a charge of possession of a controlled substance dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested on Nov. 18, 2017, by Summit Hill police in the area of 25 E. Hazard St. Police said they found a marijuana pipe and a small amount of methamphetamine. Shuck said the meth belonged to another person at the scene and was not his.

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

Franky Allen Jennings, 31, of Freeland, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia in exchange for two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of false identification to law enforcement dropped. He was arrested following a vehicle stop along Main Street by Weatherly police.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and render 50 hours of community service. The term runs concurrent with a probation period in Bucks County.

Naim Malik Wright, 26, of West Hazleton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on May 13 following a traffic stop along East Main Street by Weatherly police.

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

Jason Rockie Bracero, 29, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded in two pending cases to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and retail theft.

He was arrested on the drug count on March 5 by Mahoning Township police. He was at the Walmart store when police served a warrant on him. While in custody the drug paraphernalia was found. The retail theft occurred at the Walmart store on Dec. 6, 2017.

On the theft count Matika placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he make restitution to Walmart for $1,211.72, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, render 75 hours of community service and stay out of the store. On the drug count he was placed on probation for a year, concurrent with the theft charge.

Rosalie Sotomayor, 37, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on May 15, 2017, in the 100 block of West Oak Street in Banks Township by state police at Hazleton following a traffic stop.

She was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

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