Carbon County court
A Palmerton man pleaded to a reduced charge on Thursday in Carbon County court stemming from a domestic incident.
He was one of seven defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.
Assault dropped
Robert Dale Crockett, 39, of Mauch Chunk Road, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct, which was part of a new stipulation reached with the district attorney’s office. In exchange for the plea, a simple assault count was dropped.
Crockett was arrested on Jan. 24, 2018, when Palmerton police responded to his residence for a reported domestic incident. On scene they found Crockett’s girlfriend with a bloody mouth. Crockett fled the home before officers arrived.
On Thursday, the girlfriend told the court that she and Crockett got into an argument over her brother and a business the two were involved in. She said both had been drinking. She admitted Crockett had punched her at least twice in the mouth during the assault.
Crockett said he was angry with the brother and he “took it out on her.”
Nanovic sentenced him to serve 10 days to one year in jail, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use. He was given credit for two days already spent in prison on the charges. He will begin serving the remaining eight days on March 8 at 6 p.m. and serve it on consecutive two-day weekends.
Steals pill
Amy M. Shellenberger, 35, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty in two pending cases both occurring on Sept. 11, 2017, and involving family members.
She pleaded to one count of theft for taking an OxyContin pill belonging to her mother. Later she was involved in a dispute with her brother and threatened him with a baseball bat. She pleaded to one count of terroristic threats in that case.
Shellenberger said she was struggling with a drug addiction problem involving methamphetamine at the time. She said she has since gone “cold turkey” from drug use, stating she had become pregnant and had a child last year. She said the birth of her child “changed the direction of my life.”
Nanovic placed her on probation for a year on each count, with the terms running consecutively. She was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and zero tolerance imposed for drug or alcohol use.
Other pleas
Justin William Kuneck, 41, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of firearms not to be carried without a license.
Kuneck was arrested on Dec. 21, 2013, when Palmerton police responded to the Palmerton Hotel for a reported problem concerning an employment termination. On scene officers found Kuneck, the employee being discharged, with a 9 mm Taurus loaded handgun in his backpack.
Kuneck said he had received the gun after his father passed away and was in the process of moving it from his home to his mother’s residence. It was noted that Kuneck was not restricted from possessing a firearm, but was not properly licensed. It was also noted that Kuneck never displayed the weapon or made any type of threats with it.
Nanovic placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Andrew Ringler, 20, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property.
He was arrested by Palmerton police on May 4, 2018, for destroying a security camera that was placed on a garage belonging to his neighbor. Police said another person took the camera down and gave it to Ringler, who then destroyed it. Ringler is currently an inmate in the county prison facing other charges.
He told Nanovic he thought that the camera was pointed onto his property.
Nanovic placed him on probation for six months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and make restitution of $137.79 for the camera.
Christine Mertz, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of simple assault.
She was arrested on Feb. 20, 2018, when Lehighton police responded to her residence along South First Street for a domestic assault. On scene, officers found that Mertz and her daughter had gotten into a dispute, during which Mertz assaulted her.
Nanovic placed her on probation for six months and ordered her to get a mental health evaluation.
DUI cases
Two defendants entered guilty pleas to driving under the influence charges.
Barry A. Tindula, 37, of Palmerton, was arrested on April 16, 2017, by Palmerton police along Route 248. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
Sentencing was deferred so Tindula can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.
Robert James Matlock Jr., 41, of New Philadelphia, was arrested on July 21, 2017, along Route 248 by Palmerton police. He refused a test.
Matlock, currently an inmate in the Schuylkill County prison, had sentencing 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.
ARD placement
Brian D. Boretski, 33, of McAdoo, was placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program on charges of strangulation — applying pressure to the throat, simple assault and harassment.
He was arrested on Dec. 15, 2018, by Nesquehoning police. Officers responded to a residence along West Railroad Street. On scene officers were told by the mother of a 16-year-old male that Boretski had assaulted him and choked him.
Boretski was placed in the program for two years and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, pay an assessment fee of $450 for the cost of the program, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay $50 per month supervision fee while in the program and have no contact with the victim.
If Boretski successfully completes the program, the charges will be dropped. Boretski does not admit guilt in entering the program.
