Carbon County court — drug cases

A Lehigh County man pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance charges on Monday in Carbon County court and faces a prison term when sentenced.

He was one of 13 defendants facing drug-related charges that entered a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Vehicle stops

Jose Alberto Echevarria, 39, of Allentown, entered pleas to the counts that were filed following traffic stops.

Echevarria was arrested on Oct. 11, 2016, along the turnpike in Kidder Township when drugs were found. The second arrest occurred on Feb. 26, 2017, along Interstate 80 in East Side Borough, State police at Fern Ridge made the I-80 arrest, and troopers from the Pocono barracks made the turnpike stop. In both cases marijuana was the drug found.

Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Matika noted state sentencing guidelines call for a prison term to be imposed.

Other pleas

Other defendants pleading to drug charges included:

Erin Nichole Fisher, 23, of Weissport, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance — heroin.

She was arrested on Oct. 19, 2017, in the 400 block of East Bertsch Street, when Lansford police were serving a warrant on her at the borough midrise. She was found with baggies containing heroin.

Fisher is currently an inmate in the county prison facing a probation violation charge. Matika deferred sentencing.

Erika Lynn Diffenderfer, 46, of Perkiomenville, Montgomery County, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. In exchange for the plea a charge of possession of a controlled substance-crystal methamphetamine was dropped.

She was arrested on July 9, 2017, by Kidder Township along Route 903.

Matika 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.

David Andrew Kroculick, 54, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. A charge of possession of a controlled substance — heroin, was dropped in a plea bargain.

He was arrested on Aug. 27, 2016, by Lansford police in the area of Boyer’s Market, at 500 W. Bertsch St.

Kroculick said he is attending drug counseling sessions.

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.

Gregory Macalush, 26, of Pottsville, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 7, 2017, by Lansford police in the 300 block of Kline Avenue.

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

The sentence runs concurrently with a term he is serving in the Schuylkill County prison for a probation violation.

Christina Fletcher, 41, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested Aug. 11, 2017, in a wooded area by Summit Hill police.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and render 50 hours of community service.

Jose A. Minyetty, 31, of McAdoo, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of driving under suspension — DUI related. He was arrested on Oct. 3, 2017, by Weatherly police along East Main Street.

Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest. He is facing a mandatory 90 days in jail on the summary charge.

Jessica Lynea Brobst, 28, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested by Lansford police in the area of Bertsch and Sharpe streets.

She told the court she was getting counseling for a drug problem.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and imposed zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service. The sentence is concurrent with a probation term she is serving in Schuylkill County.

Charles C. Erbe Jr., 50, of Coaldale, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 30, 2017, by Lansford police along West Bertsch Street.

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

Felicia M. Bigg-Carr, 27, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on June 14, 2017, by Lansford police in the area of Patterson and Coal streets.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and render 50 hours of community service.

Jeffrey Gangaware, 20, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 23, 2017, by Lansford police in the 300 block of West Bertsch Street.

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

Derek Michael Hunsicker, 29, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 20, 2017, at Kline and Sharpe streets by Lansford police.

Sentencing was deferred.

Joshua Rodriguez Jr., 25, of East Stroudsburg, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. A charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea bargain.

He was arrested on Aug. 4, 2017, by Weatherly police along East Main Street.

Matika imposed a fine of $100.

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