Carbon County court — drug cases

A Carbon County man pleaded guilty on Monday afternoon in to a drug dealing charge in the county court.

He was one of 10 defendants in pending drug-related cases to enter a plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Lehighton incident

Zachary William Hoffman, 31, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance - methamphetamine and criminal use of a communication facility. He was arrested on Sept. 27, 2018, by Lehighton police following a traffic stop. Hoffman was originally charged with 11 criminal counts, including three more counts of PWID, criminal conspiracy - PWID, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia. All those charges were dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

Police received information that Hoffman, and others, were in the Hazleton area to purchase drugs and return to Carbon County to sell them. Upon there return a vehicle stop was made and various illegal substances were found in the vehicle.

Serfass told Hoffman, who has been an inmate in the county prison since his arrest, that under state sentencing guidelines, in the standard range, he faces a minimum prison term of between 15 and 21 months.

Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Other pleas

Michelle L. Hartman, 49, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. She was arrested on March 27, 2019, by Lehighton police in the area of South First and Iron streets. Police were dispatched to the area to assist probation officers who were serving a warrant on Hartman. While being taken into custody the illegal drugs were found.

Serfass placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service.

Zachary D. Hoffman, 28, of York, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, heroin. He was arrested on Oct. 18, 2018, in the 200 block of South Second Street by Lehighton police, following a traffic stop.

Hoffman said he has been addressing his drug abuse problem and successfully completed three inpatient programs. He is now living in a halfway house and is employed full time.

Hoffman asked his sentencing be deferred so he can obtain the proper documentation of his successful completion of the inpatient programs.

Elaine Nicole Alvarez, 27, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on Aug. 29, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge along Stony Mountain Road in Penn Forest Township following a traffic stop.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

Ken Wilson, 42, of Boyertown, Berks County, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on July 12, 2019, by Summit Hill police following a traffic stop at Pine and Ludlow streets.

Serfass placed him on probation for nine months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 35 hours of community service.

Justin R. Stuyck, of Kresgeville, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on March 29, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop along Route 534 in Penn Forest Township.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service. The sentence runs consecutive to a prison term Stuyck is currently serving in the Northampton County jail on a probation violation charge.

Michael Gilbert Olk, 30, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 2, 2019, along Route 209 by Nesquehoning, following a traffic stop.

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

Justin Manuel Mantilla, 26, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension. He was arrested on Sept. 22, 2019, by Nesquehoning, along Oak Street following a vehicle stop for speeding.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year on the drug charge and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service. On the suspension count he was fined $500.

Elizabeth Nortavage, 20, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on May 11, 2019, along Maury Road, south of Route 903, in Penn Forest Township, following a traffic stop.

She was fined $300.

William I. Santiago, 26, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on March 18, 2019, by state police at Lehighton along Route 443 in Lehighton following a traffic stop.

He was fined $300.

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