Carbon County court

A Carbon County man was sentenced to a prison term on Tuesday in the county court on a charge of terroristic threats stemming from a domestic incident.

He was one of seven defendants to be sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Domestic incident

George Harris, 60, formerly of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve one to one day less 24 months in prison followed by two years of probation on the threats count and one year probation on a resisting arrest charge, with the terms running concurrently.

Harris was convicted at a bench trial before Nanovic of the charges. He was found not guilty of disorderly conduct. He was charged by Franklin Township police for an incident on July 17, 2018, involving his wife as the victim. It was noted his wife has filed for divorce.

Nanovic said he received a letter from the victim stating she would not attend the sentencing proceeding because she still feared for her safety.

Harris called the incident a “unfortunate situation.” He also said he was going to appeal the conviction.

Harris has been an inmate in the county prison for 344 days and was given credit for that time against his sentence, which means he can be paroled. However, Nanovic said Harris, who said he had no place to live, cannot be released until he has a residence that is approved by the adult probation office.

In addition, Harris was ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, have no contact with the victim or go to her residence, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and possess no firearms since the charges stem from a domestic situation.

DUI cases

Raymond Joseph Bender III, 35, of Palmerton, was sentenced on charges of driving under the influence and driving while under suspension, DUI related.

On the DUI count he was sentenced to serve 90 days to five years in jail, pay a fine of $1,500 and his license was suspended for 18 months. On the suspension count he was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail and pay a fine of $1,000. The jail terms run concurrently.

He was arrested on April 21, 2017, by state police at Lehighton along Little Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township. He refused a test.

He was given credit for five days already served. He will begin serving the remainder of his term at 7 p.m. on July 12 and serve it on consecutive two-day weekends.

Carl Winston Christopher St. Hill, 22, of Albrightsville, was sentenced on a DUI charge.

As a first offense, he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300. On a summary motor vehicle code violation he was fined $25 and costs.

He was arrested on Sept. 6, 2015, along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed 0.25 BAC. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but revoked from it for violating conditions.

Christopher J. Lee, 34, of Jim Thorpe, was placed on probation for six months and fined $300 as a first-time DUI offender.

He was arrested on Sept. 22, 2017, along First Street by Lehighton police. A test revealed a 0.18 BAC.

Other cases

Alex Rehrig, 30, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve two to 18 months in the county prison on a fleeing and eluding charge and 60 days in jail on a charge of driving under suspension, DUI related. He previously pleaded to the charges. The terms run concurrently.

He was arrested by Jim Thorpe police on Oct. 4, 2017, along Lehigh Avenue.

He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 on the suspension count and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

He will begin serving the prison term at noon on July 5.

Amanda Schleicher, 34, of Lehighton, was placed on probation for a year on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on May 12, 2017, by Mahoning Township police in the 100 block of Jamestown Street, while officers were serving a warrant. Charges of possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child were dropped in a plea bargain.

She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

Caleb Tylor Klitsch, 20, of Palmerton, was placed on probation for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

He was arrested on April 8, 2018, by Palmerton police along Mauch Chunk Road. He was previously placed in the ARD program but revoked for violating conditions.

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