Carbon County court — drug cases

A Carbon County woman, currently serving a state prison term, was sentenced to a county prison term Monday after pleading guilty to a drug charge.

She was one of four defendants in pending drug cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Franklin incident

Tori Fisher, 34, of Weissport, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia for an incident on June 6 in Franklin Township. In exchange for the plea a charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped.

Township police went to the Country Inn & Suites, along Interchange Road, to serve a warrant on Fisher. Police received information she was staying at the hotel.

While taking her into custody at the hotel, police found drug paraphernalia in the bathroom area.

She is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Muncy serving sentences imposed in Monroe and Schuylkill counties.

Serfass sentenced her to serve six to 12 months in the county prison consecutive to the state term and ordered she get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service when paroled. When she completes the state term she will be transferred to the Carbon prison to serve the new sentence.

Other pleas

Jacob William Eckley, 24, of Effort, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Dec. 3, 2014, by state police at the Weissport Canal. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it. A charged of driving under the influence was dropped.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Jonathan S. Strohl, 29, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 14, 2017, in the 500 block of Alley F by Palmerton police.

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

Christine Lynn Oxner, 46, of Andreas, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Oct. 1, 2017, by Lehighton police at Bridge Street and Summit Avenue following a vehicle stop. He was a rear-seat passenger.

Serfass sentenced her to time-served (six days) to one year in jail and ordered she get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

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