Carbon County court — drug cases
Three defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Thursday.
Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas from the following:
Theft report
Michael Thomas Ross, 32, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
He was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge on Oct. 18, 2018. Troopers responded to a residence in Penn Forest Township for a theft report. As a result of an investigation into the theft report, Ross was arrested and found on him was illegal substances. A receiving stolen property charge incident to the original theft report, was dropped in a plea bargain.
Ross is currently an inmate in the Monroe County prison serving a 12 to one day less 24 month term.
Serfass sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in prison, concurrent with Monroe County, and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service when paroled.
Two counts
Baljinder Singh, 24, of Keypoint, New Jersey, pleaded to two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was arrested on the first count on Aug. 18, 2017, by Lehighton police at a residence along South Second Street. Police responded to an unwanted person report. Singh was the person involved and had refused to leave the residence when told. While being taken into custody, the paraphernalia was found. In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office dropped charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
He was arrested on the second count on Aug. 19, 2017, at the Sunoco station along Route 443. Lehighton police were dispatched to the station for a report of an employee using drugs. Singh was the employee and was found with the paraphernalia. In that case another count of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana were dropped.
Serfass placed him on probation for six months on each count, running consecutively, and ordered him to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render a total of 50 hours of community service.
Damian M. Strausberger, 19, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of possession of marijuana.
He was arrested on March 21 by Lehighton police along Bridge Street near the Dunkin’ Donuts shop.
Serfass imposed a fine of $300.
DUI charge
Daniel John Thorpe, 34, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count each of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was arrested on July 2, 2016, by Lehighton police along Route 209 following a vehicle stop. He refused a test.
Sentencing was deferred so Thorpe can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.
