Lehigh woman given jail term for Palmerton incidents
A Lehigh County woman was sentenced to a prison term in Carbon County court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two criminal incidents that occurred in Palmerton. She was one of several defendants in pending cases to enter a plea before Judge David W. Addy.
Coin collection
Jessica Robin Bastardi, 34, of Macungie, pleaded guilty to one count each of receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy-trespass.
She was charged by Palmerton police for taking a coin collection belonging to Linda Miller, of Princeton Ave., on May 28, 2008, and also entering the residence at 670 Princeton Ave. on May 21, 2008, and taking items.
Bastardi has a long prior criminal record tied to drug abuse, Addy noted. She is currently serving a lengthy prison term in Lehigh County for various criminal acts.
On the trespass count Addy sentenced her to serve four to 23 months in prison and on the receiving count three to 23 months with the terms running concurrent with each other and concurrent with her Lehigh sentence.
She was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $974.19 which covers both cases, get both a drug and alcohol (D&A) and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, and zero tolerance on D&A use.
She was given credit for three days against her Carbon terms.
Other cases
Other defendants who entered guilty pleas included:
Elvin Rene Garcia, 26, of Bethlehem, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence (DUI). He was arrested on July 19 along Delaware Ave., in Palmerton. Given a test, the result was .24BAC.
Addy sentenced him to serve six to 23 months in prison, a fine of $500 and costs, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for a year and granted work release privileges. He will begin the jail term on Nov. 20 at noon.
Robert J. Novatnak Jr., of Beaver Meadows, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property. He was arrested on April 9 by Beaver Meadows police for his part in the theft of $790 from Lee Ann Hoffman.
Addy deferred sentencing to Nov. 22 at 1:15 p.m.
Ricky Rehrig, 23, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property. He was arrested on July 27 by Palmerton police for his part in the theft of $500 from Dorothy Kramer.
Addy sentenced him to time served (eight days) to one year in jail, make restitution of $500 to the victim and must pay at least $100 per month on the restitution and court costs.
Robert T. Snyder, 38, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of bad checks. He was arrested by Franklin Township police for issuing a bad check to Ohl Fuel Oil Co. on March 5.
Addy sentenced him to time served (one day) to three days in jail, and court costs. Restitution has been paid to the victim.
All defendants must also pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.
