Carbon County court — sentencing
A Carbon County man was sentenced to a county prison term on Friday in the county court.
He was one of five defendants who previously pleaded guilty to criminal charges and were sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika.
Trespass charge
Kevin M. Horvath, 41, of Lehighton, had entered pleas in two pending cases to charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and defiant trespass.
On the possession count he was sentenced to serve 30 days to 12 months in prison with credit for seven already served. On the trespass count, he was placed on probation for a year, running concurrently with the jail term; and on the possession of a small amount charge he was fined $150.
He was arrested for defiant trespass for an incident on May 15, 2018, at a residence along East Lizard Creek Road in East Penn Township.
The drugs charges were filed after he was taken to the county prison on the trespass count, drugs were found on him.
In exchange for the plea in the second case, a felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance was dropped by the DA.
He is currently an inmate in the county prison facing new drug charges.
Matika also ordered him to render 50 hours of community when paroled and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Other cases
James E. Frederick Jr., 62, of Summit Hill, was sentenced to serve 3 to 9 months in prison on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Matika noted the prison term was due to Frederick’s prior criminal record, despite it being over 20 years old.
Frederick was arrested on Jan. 21, 2018, when Summit Hill police responded to a residence along White Bear Drive for a 911 call. On scene, officers on knocked on the door. Frederick answered and said that he was the sole tenant of the home.
While speaking with Frederick in a room located in the residence, officers observed a glass pipe with a bulbous end and burn marks on it, out in plain view on a wooden coffee table. Frederick and the others in the home denied the pipe belonged to them. After an investigation Frederick was charged.
He was also ordered to render 50 hours of community service when paroled. He will begin the prison term at 9 p.m. on Aug. 25 and serve it on five day consecutive blocks of Monday to Friday.
Sean M. Williams, 30, of Whitehall, was placed on probation for a year on counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The terms run consecutively. On a summary motor vehicle code violation, he was fined $25 and costs.
He was arrested on Aug. 20, 2018, by Nesquehoning police when he was involved in a crash along East Catawissa Street. His vehicle struck a parked vehicle causing damages.
He was also ordered to make restitution of $14,309.04 for the damages caused, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render a total of 100 hours of community service. Williams plans to challenge the restitution figure.
Robert Steven Kugler, 33, of Lehighton, was placed on probation for a year on a charge of receiving stolen property. He was arrested by state police at Lehighton for an incident at a residence along Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township, on Aug. 8, 2018.
He was also ordered to render 50 hours of community service. The probation runs concurrent with a term he is now serving.
Sheanna Lynn Hittinger, 37, of Freeland, was placed on probation for a year on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested on June 12, 2018, by state police at Hazleton along River Street in East Side Borough when troopers served a warrant on her.
She is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Muncy, Lycoming County, where he has been approved for the state intermediate punishment program, ordered by Luzerne County court. Now with the Carbon case finished, she can begin the state program.
Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee.
