Carbon County court
A Kunkletown woman entered guilty pleas in four pending criminal cases on Thursday in Carbon County court.
She was one of four defendants in pending cases to enter a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.
Forgery
Jasmine Conner, 38, pleaded to one count each of forgery, criminal conspiracy - forgery, theft and theft by deception.
She was charged by Mahoning Township police for incidents on Jan. 21 in Lowe’s store and Cellular Connections and by Lehighton police for an incident on Sept. 28, 2018, for her part in the theft of a purse and on stealing a check from a borough resident and filling out and depositing it in a new bank account, then making withdrawals from the account. After the bank discovered the check deposited by her in opening a new account, police were called.
In the Mahoning incidents, she admitted her part in the use of a stolen credit card to make purchases at Lowe’s and attempted purchase at Cellular Connections. In the theft of the purse, she distracted the victim while a co-conspirator stole the purse.
Conner, who is an inmate in the county prison on the charges, told Nanovic she has had a drug addiction problem for the past 18 years. She had gone into a rehabilitation program for 30 days but told him, “it didn’t help me.” She also admitted to mental health issues. She said she participated in the crimes to get money for drugs.
She added that her co-conspirator in the purse theft has since died of a drug overdose.
It was also noted she has a pending burglary charge in Schuylkill County.
On the forgery counts Nanovic sentenced her to serve three to 18 months in prison on each, with the terms running concurrently; and on the theft counts one year probation on each count running consecutive to each other and consecutive to the forgery charges.
She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and make total restitution of $2,701.02.
Walmart theft
Jeremy Carlos Gomez, 28, of Freemansburg, Northampton County, pleaded to one count of criminal conspiracy - retail theft.
He was charged by Mahoning Township police for an incident on Oct. 22, 2018, at the Walmart store. He and another defendant stole coffee makers from the store and fled. Franklin Township police later stopped the vehicle in which Gomez was the driver and found the stolen items.
Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 18 months in prison with credit for 59 days already served and paroled him.
DUI cases
Schylar Tomas Brunner, 23, of Boyertown, Berks County, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence.
He was arrested by Weatherly police along Main Street on April 5, 2017. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
Sentencing was deferred as Brunner must obtain a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.
Ihor Komarowski, 79, of Philadelphia, and formerly of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Aug. 21, 2010, by Mahoning Township police along Beaver Run Road. A test revealed a 0.24 BAC. The case took a long time through the system because Komarowski could not be located.
Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.
