Carbon man admits to theft, trespass charges

A Carbon County man admitted in the county court on Monday morning to theft and trespass counts.

James Leroy Luckenbaugh, 34, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of criminal attempt — theft and criminal trespass, both felonies, before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

He was charged for the theft count by Lehighton police for an incident on Jan. 4 along Second Street. A female had parked her vehicle with emergency lights flashing and engine running to pick up one of her children. While she got out of the vehicle, Luckenbaugh attempted to get inside. When the woman confronted him, he told her he wanted to steal the vehicle. He then left the vehicle and was later apprehended.

The trespass charge stems from an incident on April 25, in Lehighton. Police were called to a residence along Center Street for a burglary in progress. The victim reported observing two men attempting to enter a residence. Police responded and apprehended Luckenbaugh as one of those involved.

Serfass told Luckenbaugh, who has been an inmate in the county prison on the charges, he faces a standard range, minimum prison term of between 21 and 27 months on the theft charge.

Luckenbaugh is going to apply for placement in the state’s Intermediate Punishment program. The program runs for two years and includes about seven months in prison, time in an inpatient rehabilitation program and then time in a halfway house.

Luckenbaugh will be transferred to a state correctional institution to be evaluated for the program. Sentencing will occur after the state determines if he is eligible or not for the program.