Carbon County court — guilty pleas
Six defendants in pending criminal cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday morning before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.
Tyler James Silbaugh, 26, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of terroristic threats.
He was arrested on Dec. 14, 2019, by Nesquehoning police, who responded to a residence along West Catawissa Street for a domestic assault. On scene Silbaugh’s then girlfriend told officers he had thrown her to the ground, grabbed her around the neck and threatened to “slit her throat.”
In exchange for the plea, a felony 3 count of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault were dropped.
Silbaugh has been an inmate in the county prison since the incident, unable to post bail.
Silbaugh told the court, “I realize I made a mistake.”
Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to one day less 24 months in prison with credit for 59 days already served and paroled him. He was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and supply a DNA sample.
Daniel Sekosan, 35, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of forgery, a felony 3.
He was charged by Jim Thorpe police for an incident at the post office along Lehigh Street. He attempted to cash a fraudulent U.S. Postal Service money order.
Nanovic sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in prison with 45 days credit for time served to date. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and supply a DNA sample.
Stephen John Susel, 52, of Lebanon, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct.
He was arrested on Aug. 24, 2018, by Palmerton police for an incident along Mauch Chunk Road. Police responded to a report of an unwanted person. On scene they found Susel hiding near a residence. He struggled with officers when they took him into custody and at the police station, the arrest report indicates. Two summary offenses were dropped in a plea deal.
Nanovic deferred sentencing.
Lillian J. Novy, 69, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of accident involving damage to an attended vehicle/property (hit and run).
She was arrested for an incident on Aug. 6, 2019, along Route 209 in Nesquehoning. She was traveling toward Jim Thorpe when her vehicle sideswiped another vehicle going in the opposite direction. She failed to stop but was later located by police at her home.
Nanovic placed her on probation for a year. It was noted all damages to the other vehicle were paid by Novy’s insurance carrier.
Matthew Warren Elison, 20, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense.
He was arrested on April 11, 2019, by Summit Hill police for an incident along East Hazard Street with his sister as the victim. Three counts of simple assault were dropped in a plea deal. It was noted that the victim did not want to pursue the assault counts.
Nanovic imposed a fine of $300.
Christine Gelding, 45, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of disorderly conduct, as a summary offense.
She was arrested on July 1, 2019, by Lansford police for an incident along Route 209 at the borough line with Coaldale.
Nanovic imposed a fine of $300.
Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.
