Carbon County court

A Lehigh County man entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday to trespass and theft counts.

He was one of six defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Lehighton incidents

Bruce Althouse Jr., 35, of Allentown, pleaded to one count each of criminal trespass, a felony, and theft by receiving stolen property.

He was arrested on the trespass count on Nov. 21, 2017, by Lehighton police with entering a residence along South Third Street and removing tools. There is a co-defendant in the case. In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office agreed to drop a burglary charge.

The second count stems from an incident on Sept. 18, 2015, in Lehighton. A resident reported a bicycle stolen from her front porch. Althouse was later seen riding the bike while delivering newspapers.

Althouse is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison facing pending burglary charges.

Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 18 months in prison on the trespass charge and one year probation on the receiving count with the terms running consecutively. He was given credit for six days served in prison on the charges.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample and zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

Other pleas

Barbara Baylon, 56, of Kulpmont, Northumberland County, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. A charge of resisting arrest was dropped in a plea bargain.

She was arrested on July 30, 2018, by Summit Hill police following a traffic stop. Police ran a check on her name and learned there was an active warrant for her arrest out of Schuylkill County. When she was told she was going to be taken into custody on the warrant, she became unruly, yelling and screaming and refusing to be handcuffed.

She is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges and has pending charges in Schuylkill County.

Nanovic placed her on probation for six months and ordered her to get both a drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations.

Scott M. Kralik Jr., 26, of Milford, Pike County, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

He was arrested on July 11 by state police at Fern Ridge. Troopers responded to a residence along Mountain Road in Penn Forest Township for a reported domestic incident. On scene troopers observed the female victim with scratches on her arm, chest and neck area. She told police Kralik, a former boyfriend, came to her house intoxicated and wanted her handgun. She refused to give it to him and he then assaulted her. She managed to get free and called police.

Kralik said the scratches occurred while he struggled with the victim over the gun. He denied that he wanted the gun to commit suicide but gave no reason for wanting the gun.

Nanovic placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he get both a drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations.

Ronald Eugene Wenz, 23, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of retail theft.

He was arrested on Jan. 12, 2017, by Mahoning Township police at the Walmart store. He and a co-defendant attempted to leave the store with a cart full of merchandise without paying for any of the items.

Nanovic placed him on probation for six months and ordered he make restitution of $50.04, (half share) of the total due, to Walmart.

Tara Lynn Hertzog, 35, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was arrested on Feb. 2 following a traffic stop by Lansford police at Bertsch and Riley streets. She was a front-seat passenger and was found to have paraphernalia used for heroin.

Sentencing was deferred to Oct. 22 because she has two other cases in which she will be sentenced on that day.

Justin Lucas, 29, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of unsworn falsification to authorities.

He was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge after he attempted to purchase a firearm at Eastern Arms and Outfitters, Route 902, in Penn Forest Township. When filling out the application, he answered “no” to the question if he had ever been arrested for a crime in which the penalty could be up to a year. He had a pending driving under the influence charge at the time.

Nanovic placed him on probation for six months and ordered he get 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.