Carbon County court-Sentencings
A Lansford man was sentenced to a state prison term last Friday on a firearms charge.
He was one of three defendants who previously pleaded guilty to criminal counts that were sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika.
Vehicle stop
Donald Allen Barlip, 53, of Lansford, was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 months in a state correctional institution on one count of firearms not to be carried without a license, a felony 3. In exchange for the plea, charges of possession of a firearm prohibited, alter/obliterate mark of identification, possession of a firearm with manufacturer number altered, all felonies, were dropped. Also dropped were several motor vehicle code summary offenses.
Barlip was arrested on March 10 by Lansford police in the area of Patterson and Leisinring streets following a vehicle stop. A .45-caliber handgun was found in the vehicle. Barlip, because of prior criminal convictions, is prohibited from having any type of firearm.
Matika, when he accepted the plea, told Barlip because of his prior criminal record, he faced a state prison term under state sentencing guidelines.
In addition to the prison term. Matika ordered Barlip to supply a DNA sample, get both a drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment and render 100 hours of community service when parole.
On a charge of driving under suspension - DUI related, he was fined $1,000 and sentenced to serve 30 to 60 days in prison, must serve the full 60 days. It runs concurrent with the firearms count.
He was given credit for 35 days spent in prison on the charge and began the jail term immediately.
Other cases
Ana Vidal, 34, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in the county prison on four counts of criminal conspiracy to commit retail theft. The thefts, all rated as felony 3s, occurred on May 14, 15, 20 and 28, 2017, at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township. There is a co-defendant in the case, The prison term will be followed by one year probation.
She was also ordered to make total restitution to Walmart for $351.12, supply a DNA sample, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.
She began the jail term on Oct. 23. She was granted work-release privileges.
George Thomas Rohrbach, 51, of Pottsville, was sentenced to serve nine to 24 months in a state correctional institution. He pleaded to one count of criminal conspiracy — retail theft.
He was arrested on May 8. There is a co-defendant in the case who stole the merchandise. Rohrbach was driving the vehicle used in the incident. He is currently an inmate in the Berks County prison awaiting action on a probation violation.
He was also ordered to get both a drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, render 100 hours of community service when paroled and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.
He was given credit for 14 days served to date on the charges.
Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000, and those sentenced to a county term must also pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.
