Carbon County court — guilty pleas

A Lake Harmony man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Monday to burglary and theft charges.

He was one of seven defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Kidder incidents

Andrew Wisniewski, 24, admitted entering a home along Jack Rabbit Run in White Haven, Kidder Township, on Aug. 9, 2018, and removing a shotgun. He also pleaded to a theft count for an incident on July 31, 2018, also in White Haven, in which various items were removed from a residence along Squirrel Trail. In that case the district attorney’s office dropped a burglary charge.

Wisniewski, who is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges, was sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in prison on the burglary charge and 18 months probation on the theft count, with the terms running concurrently.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample, render 50 hours of community service when paroled, make restitution of $1,665.54 and have no contact with the victims.

He was given credit for 174 days already served in prison on the charges.

Lansford break-in

Francis W. Chambers, 31, of Lansford, pleaded guilty to one count each of burglary, flight to avoid apprehension and persistent disorderly conduct in three pending cases.

He was arrested on the burglary charge by Lansford police for entering a home along West Water Street on Aug. 29, 2018. The conduct charge stems from a Jan. 29, 2018, incident in Lansford along West Patterson Street. The flight to avoid apprehension occurred on Sept. 5, 2018, in Lansford when he fled police along West Abbott Street when they attempted to serve a warrant on him.

Chambers is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges. Sentencing was deferred.

Retail thefts

William Edward Camenzind III, 30, of Saint John’s, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count each of retail theft and criminal attempt — retail theft, both occurring at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township. The retail theft occurred on Nov. 11, 2015, and the attempt on Nov. 12, 2015. In both cases he was placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked for not paying all costs.

Matika placed him on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, make restitution of $668, render 50 hours of community service and stay out of the store. He also pleaded to a driving under suspension charge filed with the retail theft count. Matika imposed a fine of $200.

Wayman Moore, 48, of Harrisburg, pleaded to one count of retail theft. He was arrested on July 9 at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township.

Moore is currently an inmate in the Berks County prison serving a six- to 23-month term.

Matika sentenced him to serve two to 23 months in prison, concurrent with Berks, and ordered him to make restitution of $695.42, render 75 hours of community service when paroled and to stay out of the store.

Denise Elizabeth Latham, 36, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested by Lansford police for an incident at Boyer’s Market, West Bertsch Street, on June 5, 2017.

Latham is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charge and also has a detainer filed against her by Schuylkill County.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to make restitution of $35, render 50 hours of community service and stay out of Boyer’s in Lansford.

Jeremy Frank Lockwitch, 30, of Weissport, pleaded to one count of identity theft. He was charge by Nesquehoning police for an incident involving a credit card of a borough resident. A charge of access device fraud was dropped in a plea bargain.

Matika sentenced him to time-served (96 days) to one year and ordered restitution of $49.95 and render 50 hours of community service.

Terry Lynn Phillips, 44, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property. He was charged by Nesquehoning police for an incident on Jan. 3, 2018, involving a borough resident in which an Xbox was taken.

Phillips is currently an inmate in the county prison on a probation violation petition. Sentencing was deferred.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.