Lansford man given prison term in theft case

A Lansford man was sentenced to a county prison term on Thursday morning after previously pleading guilty to a access device fraud charge.

Matthew Scott Creveling, 31, of Lansford, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve nine to one day less 24 months in prison on the charge.

Creveling was arrested by Lansford police on June 14 for using the bank card of a borough resident without his permission. The victim had used an ATM at a borough bank and forgot it in the machine. Before the machine seized the card, Creveling, who was the next person to use the machine, saw the card and used it to get cash for himself.

Creveling is currently an inmate in the county prison awaiting action on a petition filed by the adult probation office to revoke his probation in another matter.

Creveling admitted to a drug addiction problem. He told Serfass, “I do have extreme drug issues.” He said he spent time in a New Jersey state prison because of his drug addiction. He said 26 days after his release from the New Jersey prison he was picked up on Carbon County charges and jailed.

He added, “My drug use doesn’t define who I really am.” He said he is attempting to get counseling and is willing to enter a rehabilitation program.

Serfass said he would keep Creveling in the county because he has shown remorse for his actions and is his taking steps to address his problems.

In addition to the prison term, Creveling was ordered to make restitution of $380 for the money taken in the incident, render a total of 100 hours of community service when paroled, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee and zero tolerance on drug or alcohol use.

He was given credit for 39 days already served on the sentence and was returned to the prison.