Carbon County court — DUI
Four defendants who previously pleaded guilty to driving under the influence charges were sentenced in Carbon County court on Tuesday.
President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II imposed the sentences on the following:
Lakoda-Lyn Elizabeth Hoffman, 24, of Palmerton, was sentenced to serve 30 days in prison followed by six months in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest — with the first 60 days on electronic monitoring. She must also pay a fine of $1,500 and driver’s license suspended for 18 months.
She was found guilty of the charge by Nanovic following a bench trial held Sept. 12. She was arrested by state police at Lehighton on July 2, 2016. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
She will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Dec. 18 and serve it on consecutive two-day periods.
Kenneth Allen Wanamaker Jr., 40, of Walnutport, was placed on probation for six months and was ordered to pay a fine of $300 as a first-time offender.
He was arrested on Nov. 8, 2013, along Route 248 at Bowmanstown by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was originally charged with 10 counts. He also previously pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia for which he was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to the DUI charge.
The case has a long history in the system, having had at least 21 prior continuances.
Wanamaker is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison serving a six- to 12-month term followed by four years of probation on unrelated charges. Nanovic ruled his sentences would run concurrent with Lehigh County.
Patrick Nicholas Decaprio Jr., 36, of Ashley, Luzerne County, was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300.
He was arrested on July 3 by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed a 0.19 BAC.
Shane Michael Austin, 21, of East Bangor, Northampton County, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension.
He was arrested on Feb. 11 along Route 248 by Palmerton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
He began the jail term immediately.
Suspension count
August Eli Harsch, 27, of Saylorsburg, was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail on a charge of driving under suspension, DUI related. He must also pay a fine of $500.
He was arrested on Feb. 11 by state police at Lehighton along Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township.
He will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on Dec. 18. He was granted immediate work release privileges.
