Carbon County court — DUI
A total of four defendants entered guilty pleas on Thursday in Carbon County court to driving under the influence charges before Judge Steven R. Serfass.
Robert K. Burley Jr., 36, of Lansford, also pleaded to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Burley is currently an inmate in the county prison.
He was arrested on Jan. 26 after Lansford police received a report of a stolen vehicle from along Bertsch Street. The victim reported his car was taken. The keys were left in it. The vehicle and Burley were later stopped by Tamaqua police. He refused a blood test.
Police said he was highly intoxicated at the time. It was noted Burley has an extensive prior record.
On the unauthorized use charge, Serfass sentenced him to serve nine to one day less 24 months in prison, and on the DUI count, five days to six months. He was given credit for a total of 89 days on the charges, which run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 and one-year license suspension for the DUI and render a total of 125 hours of community service when paroled.
Raymond Joseph Bender III, 35, of Palmerton, was arrested on April 21, 2017, by state police at Lehighton along Little Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township. He refused a test. He also pleaded to driving under suspension — DUI related.
Sentencing was deferred so Bender can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Thomas Mitchell McQueen, 45, of Pen Argyl, was arrested on July 21, 2018, by Franklin Township police along Interchange Road while operating a motorcycle. He refused a test. He also pleaded to driving under suspension — DUI related.
Sentencing was deferred so he can get a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Paige Makenzie Kromer, of Palmerton, was arrested on Sept. 28, 2018, by Mahoning Township police along Mauch Chunk Street. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
She was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.
She will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on April 29.
Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole and follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.
