Carbon County court — DUI

A Carbon County man, who previously entered a guilty plea to driving under the influence entered a guilty plea to a second charge on Friday in the county court and was sentenced to a county prison term.

He was one of 16 defendants in pending DUI-related cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

ARD revoked

Michael Taschler Sr., 65, of Lehighton, entered a plea to DUI for an incident on Feb. 18, 2018, filed by Lehighton police along Third Street. 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 He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it when he admitted to another DUI charge.

That incident occurred on Oct. 14, 2018, by Mahoning Township police along Grist Mill Road after he was involved in a crash.

On the first count Serfass sentenced Taschler to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension. On the second DUI he was sentenced to serve 90 days to 60 months in prison, a fine of $1,500 and an 18-month license suspension. The jail terms run concurrently. He was also ordered to supply a DNA sample. On a charge of driving under suspension, DUI-related, he was ordered to serve 45 to 90 days (but must serve the full 90 days) and pay a fine of $1,000. The jail term runs concurrent with the others.

He will begin serving the prison term on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. and serve it on consecutive two-day weekends.

No interlock

Christine E. McGarry, 44, of Drums, Luzerne County, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle without a interlock system on it in addition to the DUI count. She was stopped on Oct. 14, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 534 at Navajo Trail in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed a 0.17 BAC. At the time of the stop she was required to have an interlock system on her vehicle due to a prior DUI conviction. Serfass told her she faces a mandatory 90 days in jail on the interlock charge and jail time for the DUI count.

Serfass deferred sentencing so McGarry can apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program, house arrest.

Other pleas

Steven Camaj, 42, of Pottsville, pleaded to two counts of DUI in separate incidents.

He was arrested on the first count on Aug. 27, 2018, along Ochre Street by Lehighton police. The second occurred on Aug. 19, 2019, along Lake Drive by Lansford police. In both cases tests revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Sentencing was deferred to Camaj can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Jay Michael Zelinsky, 49, of Palmerton, was arrested on March 24, 2018, by Palmerton police along Mauch Chunk Road. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was originally charged with 13 counts.

Sentencing was deferred so Zelinsky can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Kelly Kerezsi, 48, of Weatherly, was arrested on June 8, 2019, along Hudsondale Street by Weatherly police. A test revealed a 0.19 BAC.

Sentencing was deferred to she can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Timothy Sean Hanley, 37, of New Milford, Susquehanna County, was arrested on July 14, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Kidder Township. A test revealed a 0.12 BAC.

A first offense, he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 and render 25 hours of community service.

Ronald C. Klotz, 59, of Lehighton, was arrested on Sept. 1, 2019, at North First and Coal streets by Lehighton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Sentencing was deferred so Klotz can apply for placement in the IPP.

Dylan Thomas Craig-Zelena, 27, of Palmerton, was arrested on Nov. 11, 2017, along Forest Inn Road in Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was previously placed in the ARD program but was revoked for violating conditions.

Serfass sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.

He will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Feb. 7.

Benjamin Michael Wnorowski, 29, of Lehighton, was arrested on June 2, 2017, along Route 248 by Franklin Township police. A test revealed a 0.12 BAC.

A first offense, he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 and render 25 hours of community service.

Shannon Werner, 34, of Lehighton, was arrested on July 8, 2019, along North Seventh Street by Lehighton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. Werner also pleaded to driving under suspension.

Sentencing was deferred so Werner can apply for the IPP.

Jari Michael Carroll, 26, of Philadelphia, was arrested on July 26, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 at Old Stage Road in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.

He began the jail term immediately.

Brent C. Leibenguth, 36, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on July 2, 2019, by Jim Thorpe police after being involved in a crash along North Street. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for the IPP.

Mark William Fitzsimmons Jr., 42, of Nesquehoning, was arrested on April 12, 2019, by Nesquehoning police along Route 209. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and render 25 hours of community service.

He will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on Feb. 14.

Ronald Kunkle, 49, of Lehighton, was arrested on June 16, 2019, by state police at Lehighton along Canal Street in Franklin Township. A test revealed a 0.25 BAC.

Sentencing was deferred so Kunkle can apply for placement in the IPP.

Peter Jermid Urubshurow, 47, of Morrisville, Bucks County, was arrested on Nov. 24, 2016, by state police at Lehighton along Maury Road in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed a 0.15 BAC. He also pleaded to one count of driving under suspension.

He was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail, pay a fine of $500, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service. On the suspension count he was fined $500.

He will begin the jail term on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.

Michael P. Wallace, 36, of Whitehall, was arrested on Nov. 9, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along Spruce Road in Lower Towamensing Township. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for placement in the IPP.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation and follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.