Carbon County court

A Pike County woman entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Tuesday to four criminal counts, including a drug charge and conduct count.

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

Palmerton incident

Juli Ann Schloff, 34, of Greentown, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and persistent disorderly conduct and summary charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Palmerton police were called to the Convenient Food Mart on Delaware Avenue on May 6, 2018, for a report of a disturbance. On scene police saw a group of people arguing. Police were told one person, Schloff, displayed a stun gun and had fled into the store. Police found her in a restroom area. She at first refused to leave but eventually was taken into custody and transported to the county prison.

Since the incident, Schloff told Nanovic she had been undergoing counseling for drug and alcohol issues and has been “clean” for a year.

On the persistent disorderly conduct and drug counts she was placed on probation for a year, running concurrently, and on the summary drunkenness charge she was fined $500. The other conduct charge merged with the persistent count, Nanovic ruled.

Flees police

Amy Renee Patton, 44, of Everett, Bedford County, pleaded to one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving under suspension, DUI related. A DUI charge was dropped in a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office. She was originally charged with 12 counts.

She was arrested on Nov. 24, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge in Penn Forest Township. Police attempted to stop her vehicle and she fled, traveling over various township roads before eventually being stopped when she turned onto a road that was blocked.

Patton said she has a nursing degree and worked for a time for the Geisinger Medical System. She said her life took a complete turn after a death of a relative and her marriage broke up. Her nursing license has been suspended by the state. She also has had criminal charges filed against her in other counties, all tied to alcohol abuse.

On the fleeing charge, Nanovic sentenced her to serve two to 18 months in prison, and on the suspension charge 90 days in prison, with the terms running concurrently. She was also ordered to pay fines totaling $1,000, ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

Other pleas

Matthew Christopher Dale, 27, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct. A misdemeanor count of persistent disorderly conduct was dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Aug. 7, 2019, by Lansford police.

Nanovic imposed a fine of $200.

Johnny Joseph Yurkunas, 45, of Palmerton, pleaded to two summary motor vehicle code offenses of disregarding traffic lanes and driving and driving too slow for conditions. In exchange for the pleas, two counts of DUI were dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Aug. 29, 2016, by state police at Lehighton.

Nanovic imposed fines totaling $50.

Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.