Man given probation on drug count after felony dropped

A Kunkletown man was given a probation sentence after the commonwealth agreed to drop a felony drug count against him.

William David Shook III, 21, pleaded guilty on Thursday in Carbon County court to one count of possession of a controlled substance — marijuana, a ungraded misdemeanor. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office agreed to drop a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony.

Shook was arrested on Aug. 4, 2015, by state police at Hazleton drug unit after he sold drugs to a confidential informant working for the county drug task force. The sale was made in Parryville Park.

Shook was originally placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it for violating conditions.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II, who accepted the plea, placed Shook on probation for a year and ordered he pay a fine of $250, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.