Lehighton man given jail term for drunken driving

A Lehighton man was sentenced to a county prison term on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to a driving under the influence charge.

Judge Steven R. Serfass sentenced John Ruzicka, 32, to serve 90 days to 60 months in prison on the charge, pay a fine of $1,500 and his license was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to render 100 hours of community service when paroled, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and follow any recommendation of his drug and alcohol evaluation.

He was arrested on Nov. 29, 2018, by Lehighton police along Route 443.

A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Ruzicka applied for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest — but the adult probation office recommended against it.

Serfass agreed, noting that Ruzicka had several prior revocations in the case and also was found to have used an illegal substance while on supervision.

Ruzicka will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Aug. 1 and serve the 90 days straight. He was granted work-release privileges.