Carbon County court — drug cases
A total of six defendants in drug-related cases entered guilty pleas on Friday in Carbon County court.
Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the pleas from the following:
Surveillance operation
Joshua N. Yorgey, 37, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility, a felony three.
He was arrested by Mahoning Township police following a surveillance operation conducted by police at a residence along Orchard Road on June 28. In exchange for the plea charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, two counts of possession and one of possession of paraphernalia were dropped. The charge he pleaded to was added to the original criminal complaint.
Matika told Yorgey, under state sentencing guidelines, he faces a minimum prison term of anywhere between nine and 18 months. “That could mean a state sentence,” Matika warned.
Matika ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report and deferred sentencing to a later date.
Other pleas
Joseph Becker Jr., 19, of Pocono Summit, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility, a felony three.
He was originally charged with 13 criminal counts including possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, escape, tampering with evidence and fleeing or attempting to elude police.
He was arrested on March 12 by Lansford police in the unit block of East Patterson Street. Becker was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by police. He was found to have methamphetamine in his possession.
Becker told the court, “I made a mistake, just trying to get my life back on track.”
Matika placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, render 75 hours of community service and supply an DNA sample.
Royce Chester-Brathwaite, 21, of Blakeslee, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on June 22 along Route 534 at the Holiday Pocono development in Albrightsville. Marijuana was found.
He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of service.
Andrew Justin Lech, 28, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on July 17 along Third Street by Weatherly police following a traffic stop.
He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.
Nayvi Antonio Marte, 24, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Feb. 7 by state police along Route 93 in Packer Township following a vehicle stop.
He was fined $100.
Donald Carl Smith III, 24, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on May 26, 2016, by Mahoning Township police along East Catawissa Street in Nesquehoning. The arrest was part of a county drug task force operation. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it for violating conditions.
He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.
All defendants sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.
