Carbon County court — DUI
Nine defendants entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday to driving under the influence charges.
Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted pleas from the following:
Roger D. Minaker, 59, of White Haven, was arrested on Nov. 6, 2017, by Beaver Meadows police along Berwick Street. He also pleaded to a charge of endangering the welfare of a child. In the vehicle with him was a 2-year-old child. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
On the DUI charge, he was sentenced to serve 72 hours to one year in jail, a fine of $1,000, license suspended for 18 months and render a total of 100 hours of community service.
On the endangering count, he was placed on probation for a year concurrent with the DUI charge.
He will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on May 18.
Lillian Mary Mendez-Mendez, 34, of Loganville, Georgia, was arrested on Dec. 26, 2017, by Kidder Township police along Moseywood Road. She also pleaded to endangering the welfare of a child. Police said she had five children in the vehicle with her. A test revealed a 0.13 BAC.
On the DUI charge, she was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $1,000, her license was suspended for 18 months and she must render 100 hours of community service.
On the endangering count, she was place on probation for a year, concurrent with the DUI charge.
Kim Osborn, 57, of Coaldale, was arrested on Nov. 22, 2017, by Lansford police along Patterson Street. She also pleaded to endangering the welfare of a child. A juvenile was found in the vehicle.
Sentencing was deferred so she can obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.
She is currently an inmate in the county prison on a probation violation.
Dalton Allen Vanhorn, 26, of Kunkletown, was arrested on March 20, 2017, by Kidder Township police along Route 534 at the Holiday Pocono development. He refused a test.
Sentencing was deferred so Vanhorn can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Cynthia Louise Szacska, 56, of Lehighton, was arrested on March 15, 2015, by Mahoning Township police. She refused a test.
Sentencing was deferred so she can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Nicholas John Yatsula, 36, of Hazle Township, was arrested on Sept. 5, 2016, by Weatherly police along Main Street. A test revealed a 0.22 BAC.
Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Thomas Charles Dittus, 21, of Pottsville, was arrested on May 5, 2016, by Lansford police along Patterson Street. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
Sentencing was deferred so Dittus can obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.
James Robert Fenimore, 56, of Lehighton, was arrested on Dec. 27, 2014, by Mahoning Township police along Route 443. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it for violating conditions.
Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Kyle Thomas Bisher, 27, of Nazareth, was arrested on April 29, 2017, along Ridge Street by Lansford police. A test revealed a 0.16 BAC. He was previously placed in the ARD program but was revoked from it for violating conditions.
Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.
Suspension count
Michael Joseph Maguschak, 29, of Beaver Meadows, pleaded to one count of driving under suspension — DUI related. He was arrested on Feb. 1, 2017, by Mahoning Township police along Route 443.
He was sentenced to serve 45 to 90 days in jail, but must serve the full 90 days, and a fine of $500. He was given credit for 162 days already served and paroled.
Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000, a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole and follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.
