Carbon County court — DUI
Six defendants entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday to driving under the influence charges.
Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas from the following:
Joshua Daniel Heil, 26, of Schnecksville, was arrested on June 24 by Lehighton police along South First Street. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He also pleaded to one count of driving under suspension — DUI related.
On the DUI charge, Serfass sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and a one-year license suspension.
On the driving under suspension count he was sentenced to serve 45 to 90 days in jail, but must serve the full 90 days, pay a fine of $1,000 and will have another year suspension. The jail terms run concurrently.
He will begin his jail term at 9 a.m. on Nov. 1.
Brian Thomas Karlick, 31, of Bowmanstown, was arrested on Dec. 8, 2016, along Route 443 by Lehighton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He also pleaded to a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia for an incident on Dec. 30, 2016, filed by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop along Bridge Street in Weissport.
Sentencing was deferred so Karlick can get a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI charge.
Karen Maree Roberts, 35, of Palmerton, was arrested on Jan. 16, 2015, by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
Sentencing was deferred so she can obtain a D&A evaluation.
John Henry Merz, 29, of Rockaway, New Jersey, was arrested on Oct. 29, 2016, along Route 1001 by state police at Lehighton. He was originally stopped for speeding. A test revealed a 0.17 BAC.
Sentencing was deferred so Merz can obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.
Nicholas Robert Acker, 21, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on Feb. 5 by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
Serfass sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hour of community service.
He was given credit for 23 days spent in an inpatient rehab program and paroled.
Shaina Louise Haas, 29, of Lehighton, was arrested on June 4 by Lehighton police along Fourth Street. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
Sentencing was deferred so she can obtain a D&A evaluation.
Those sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000, a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and follow any recommendation of their D&A evaluation.
