Carbon County court

A Monroe County man admitted in Carbon County court on Monday to threatening to burn down the house of his ex-girlfriend.

He was one of four defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

East Penn incident

Jose Juan Torres, 38, of East Stroudsburg, pleaded to one count of terroristic threats for an incident on Jan. 2. State police at Lehighton responded to a residence along Ben Salem Road in East Penn Township to a report of a disturbance. On scene the female resident of the home told troopers that Torres, who was described in the police report as the woman’s ex-boyfriend, had threatened to burn down her house. He was taken into custody without incident.

Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Torres is also going to apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest.

Other pleas

Kelly Marie Dalessio, 41, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of hindering apprehension. She was charged by Lansford police on Oct. 3. Officers went to a residence along West Kline Avenue where she was then residing to serve a warrant on her husband. She told officers he was not in the home and didn’t know his whereabouts, when, in fact, he was hiding in the home.

Dalessio is currently an inmate in the county prison facing a state parole violation proceeding.

Matika, stating the charge she faces on the state level is much more serious than the case before him, sentenced her to serve 15 to 30 days, but must serve the full 30 days. He gave her credit for 30 days already served and paroled her on the charge. She will remain in the prison on the state parole violation.

Amber Dawn Randall, 46, of Weatherly, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense, in exchange for a charge of simple assault being dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

She was arrested on May 10, 2017, by Lansford police for assaulting a 17-year-old boy in front of her then home along East Patterson Street.

Matika imposed a fine of $100.

Regina A. Redner, 35, of New Ringgold, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. She was charged by Lansford police for an incident in the 200 block of West Ridge Street. Police responded to a report of a fight in the street. Redner was there and failed to follow police instructions to calm down and was charged.

Matika placed her on probation for six months and ordered her to render 25 hours of community service.

Robert Eugene Buck, 63, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of unsworn falsification. A charge of materially false written statement was dropped in a plea bargain.

He was arrested by Mahoning Township police for an incident in March 2017 when he attempted to purchase a firearm at the Walmart store and gave a false or incriminating answer on the application form.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service.

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