Lehighton woman given jail time for drunk driving

A Lehighton woman, arrested for drunk driving with a child in the vehicle at the time, was sentenced to a prison term on Thursday after entering a guilty plea. She was one of several defendants in pending cases to enter a guilty plea before Carbon County Judge David W. Addy.

Franklin incident

Tara M. Devitt, 38, was sentenced to serve one to four years in jail after pleading to one count each of driving under the influence (DUI), and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arrested on Sept. 7, 2008, along SR209 in the area of the Hampton Inn in Franklin Township.

Addy also ordered her to get both drug and alcohol (D&A) and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment; zero tolerance on D&A use; continue mental health counseling; license suspended for 18 months; and pay a fine of $2,500.

On the endangering charge she was sentenced to serve three to 12 months in jail concurrent with the DUI charge.

She was given credit for 282 days spent in inpatient rehabilitation programs. Addy ordered the 83 days remaining be served in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) with electronic monitoring.

Other pleas

Other defendants who entered pleas before Addy included:

Michael Steven Cardone, 23, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin. He was arrested on June 25 in Palmerton.

Addy deferred sentencing and ordered a presentence investigation (PSI) be prepared by the adult probation office.

Andrew Clinton Lewis, 19, of Silver Springs, Md., pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Aug. 23 following an accident along the turnpike in Franklin Township. A test revealed illegal substances were in his system.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one year license suspension, and get a D&A evaluation. He was given credit for 11 days spent in jail on the charge and was immediately paroled.

Gregory Neil Toblin, 53, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty to one count of DUI. He was arrested on March 18 along Maury Road. Given a test, the result was .07BAC.

Addy deferred sentencing.

Jessica Vanderhoof, 29, of Bartonsville, pleaded to one count of DUI. She was arrested on Jan. 13 along SR903 in Kidder Township.

Addy sentenced her to serve five days to six months in jail, a fine of $300, one year license suspension, D&A evaluation and zero tolerance of D&A use. She will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11.

All defendants must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee.