Carbon County court — drug cases
A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term on Friday after pleading guilty to a drug dealing charge.
He was one of nine defendants in pending drug cases to enter a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.
Palmerton incident
Jeffrey John Smith, 34, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine. He was arrested on March 11 by Palmerton police when they arrived at a residence along Lehigh Avenue to serve an arrest warrant on a female. While checking the residence various illegal drugs were found and items used in drug dealing. It was Smith’s residence.
Smith also pleaded to one count of criminal mischief for an incident on Sept. 18, 2017, when he damaged the front door of a neighbors’ home.
It was noted that Smith has mental health issues and also a prior drug record.
Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment and supply a DNA sample. On the mischief count he was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to the drug charge, pay court costs of about $1,000 and ordered to make restitution of $650.
Smith, who has been in prison since his arrest, was given credit for 222 days already served on the drug charge.
Other pleas
Felicia Bower, 31, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, heroin. She was arrested on April 1 by Summit Hill police along North Oak Street. She was observed by borough police walking in the area, and they knew there was an active warrant for her arrest. While taking her into custody, heroin was found on her.
Nanovic sentenced her to serve three to 12 months in the county prison, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use. She is currently an inmate in the county prison on a pending probation violation. She was given credit for 56 days already served.
Jared Jacob Troost, 28, of East Stroudsburg, entered guilty pleas in three pending cases to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of tampering with evidence.
He was arrested on Sept. 17, 2018, by state police at Lehighton, at the barracks in Towamensing Township. He came to the barracks to report a theft and was taken into custody on an active warrant. Drugs were found on him. The second drug arrest occurred on April 9, 2017, filed by state police at Fern Ridge. Troopers responded to the Econo Lodge along Route 940 in Kidder Township on a complaint and found various drugs in the room and Troost. The tampering charge stemmed from an incident on May 23, 2018, in Palmerton following a vehicle stop along Route 248 by borough police. Troost was a passenger in the vehicle, and when given a tablet to write down his name and address, he wrote a false name.
Since his arrest he entered an inpatient rehabilitation program and continues weekly treatment sessions.
On the first drug count Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison with 40 days credit and paroled. On the second drug count he was sentenced to the same term, running concurrently. On the tampering he was placed on probation for six months concurrent to the other counts.
Jennifer Jackson, 38, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Nov. 17, 2018, by Summit Hill police along Iron Street following a traffic stop.
She was sentenced to serve one to 12 months in prison, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and continue counseling sessions.
She was given credit for three days served. She will begin serving the remainder of her term starting at noon on Oct. 25 and serve it on consecutive weekends.
Isaiah Luis Cruz-Ortiz, 21, of Coaldale, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 21, 2018, by Lansford police along Dock Street following a vehicle stop.
He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a D&A evaluation.
Quinn Rexford Hydro, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of misbranding a controlled substance. He was arrested on Aug. 7 by Lehighton police along North First Street. Police found him in possession of a prescription bottle with controlled substances not consistent with the label on the bottle.
He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a D&A evaluation.
Michael James Miller, 50, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence.
He was arrested on March 10 by Lansford police at a residence along Cortright Street. Officers went to the property to serve a warrant. Miller was found in the home with drugs and attempting to swallow some of the drugs. Police found at least four bags of methamphetamine in the residence.
Miller, currently an inmate in the county prison, was sentenced to serve nine to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered to get a D&A evaluation. He was given credit for 55 days already served.
Jessica N. Carter, 24, of Bowmansville, Lancaster County, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, heroin. She was arrested on April 9, 2016, by Lansford police in the 400 block of East Bertsch Street. Police were dispatched for a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area and found Carter in the suspect vehicle with drugs.
She was placed on probation for six months and zero tolerance imposed or drug or alcohol use.
Brieawna Rose Disabella, 23, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on March 16 by Lansford police along West Ridge Street following a vehicle stop. She was a passenger in the vehicle.
She was fined $250 and costs.
Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.
