Carbon County court — drug-related cases

A total of nine defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas on Monday in Carbon County court.

Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted pleas from the following:

Vehicle stop

Robert T. Fisher, 55, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance - methamphetamine, and driving while under suspension - DUI related.

He was arrested on May 4, 2018, by Lehighton police following a traffic stop along Route 443. At the stop, police learned of warrants for Fisher and took him into custody. A search of the vehicle found a scale, illegal drugs and materials used to package drugs for sale.

Sentencing was deferred as Fisher has three other criminal cases pending.

He is currently an inmate in the county prison.

Other pleas

Shaun Austin Mann, 25, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. He was arrested on Nov. 19, 2019, by Lehighton police at a residence along the 300 block of Iron Street. A felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal with the DA. He is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges.

Serfass sentenced him to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison with credit for 63 days already served. He was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and render 100 hours of community service when paroled. He was granted work release if he qualifies.

Jessica Marie Snisky, 24, of Allentown, pleaded in two pending cases to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and hindering apprehension.

She was arrested on the drug count on Oct. 1, 2018, by Lehighton police in the area of the Dunkin’ Donuts shop along Bridge Street. The hindering arrest occurred on June 21, 2018, filed by Nesquehoning police. Another hindering and obstruction of law counts were dropped in a plea bargain.

On the hindering count Serfass sentenced her to time-served (48 days) to one day less 24 months and on the drug count six months probation, consecutive to the first count. She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample and render a total of 125 hours of community service.

Brittani Aylse Gosnear, 30, of Philadelphia, pleaded in two pending cases to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, theft and receiving stolen property.

She was charged on July 11, 2019, by Jim Thorpe police with the drug and receiving counts for an incident at a residence along School Street where she was accused of stealing various items from a relative. The second case occurred on Aug. 22, 2019, also filed by Jim Thorpe police with the same victim in which drugs were taken.

In the first case charges of endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault and resisting arrest were dropped in a plea deal. In the second case four counts of theft were dropped.

Gosnear’s attorney, Paul J. Levy, of the public defender’s office, said his client spent 30 days in an inpatient program from drug and mental health issues.

Searfass deferred sentencing so Levy can provide paperwork on the inpatient program.

Geoffrey Edwin Matheson, of Elkton, Maryland, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with a charge of possession of a controlled substance dropped in a plea deal with the DA. He was arrested following a traffic stop along the Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard by Lehighton police. Marijuana was found. Matheson was a passenger in the vehicle.

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

Stephanie Ann Barron, 38, of Nesquehoning, pleaded in two pending cases to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

She was arrested on the paraphernalia charge following a vehicle stop along Route 209 by Summit Hill police on Jan. 10. She was arrested on the second charge by Nesquehoning police on Dec. 6, 2019, following a vehicle stop along Route 93. In that case two charges of possession of a controlled substance were dropped in a plea deal.

Serfass placed her on probation for nine months on each count, with the terms running consecutively, and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render a total of 70 hours of community service.

Scott David Miller Jr., 31, of Coaldale, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 28, 2019, by Summit Hill police at a residence along East White Street while police were serving an arrest warrant.

Serfass sentenced him to time served (five days) to one year in jail and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Michael Atherholt, 39, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on March 21, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge when troopers were serving a warrant at a residence along Stony Mountain Road in Penn Forest Township.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300. Charges of possession of a controlled substance and hindering apprehension were dropped in a plea deal with the DA.

Sean Matthew Conklin, 28, of Blakeslee, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Sept. 25, 2015, by state police at Fern Ridge along Old Stage Road in Penn Forest Township. In March 2016, he was placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on the DUI charge but was revoked from it for violating conditions. This time around, the DUI count was dropped in a plea deal.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

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