Carbon man sent to prison on trespassing charge

A Carbon County man was sentenced to a county prison term on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of criminal trespass, rated as a felony two. He also pleaded to charges of loitering or prowling at night and a summary offense of criminal mischief.

Dennis Allen Ringler, 42, of Palmerton, admitted to incidents that occurred on March 25 along Hahns Dairy Road in Lower Towamensing Township. Ringler admitted entering onto at least two properties and sheds on those properties. He was observed by the property owners, who called state police at Lehighton.

After Ringler was identified by troopers as the suspect, he was interviewed and admitted to the acts.

Ringler claimed he was looking for his daughter and her mother. He said he had not seen his daughter for some time and said he had information that his wife was in the area.

Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas and sentenced Ringler to serve two to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render a total of 150 hours of community service when paroled, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.

The jail term was imposed on the trespass and loitering charges. On the mischief count he was fined $300.

Ringler began the prison term immediately. He was granted work-release privileges.