Lehighton man admits to three burglaries

A Lehighton man admitted to three burglaries on Tuesday in Carbon County court. He was one of several defendants in pending cases to enter a guilty plea before Senior Judge Richard W. Webb.

Franklin incidents

Gerald Lee Wentz, 23, pleaded to three counts of burglary for two break-ins that occurred in Franklin Township and one in Penn Forest Township.

The Franklin entries occurred on May 25 and June13, and on May 12 in Penn Forest, all in 2008.

Webb accepted the pleas but deferred sentencing and ordered a presentence investigation (PSI) be prepared by the adult probation office.

Ohter pleas

Other defendants who entered pleas included:

Michael Paul Wallace, 26. of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of aggravated assault and resisting arrest. He was arrested for an incident on July 30 at his residence along Avenue A with Officer Robert Hontz and Lisa Depriest as the listed victims.

Webb deferred sentencing and ordered a PSI.

Ryan Keith Dillman, 21, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of criminal attempt-theft by unlawful taking. He was arrested by Palmerton police for an incident in which Cody Garner is the listed victim and occurring at the Pereira Gulf Station along Delaware Avenue.

Webb placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he has no contact with victim and stay off the property of the service station.

Kathy Joy Lauer, 42, of New Tripoli, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence (DUI). She was arrested on Aug. 23 along Delaware Avenue in Palmerton. Given a test, the result was .20BAC.

Webb sentenced her to serve 30 days to six months in prison, a fine of $300 and costs, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and license suspended for a year. She will spent two days in jail and 28 days in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) with electronic monitoring. She begins the jail term at 9 a.m. on Dec. 26.

James Arthur Nelson, 41, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on July 2 along SR209 in Franklin Township. Given a test, the result is 13BAC.

Webb deferred sentencing to give Nelson a chance to apply for placement in the IPP.

Ricky N. Rehrig Jr., 23, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of unauthorized use of a automobile. He was arrested on Sept. 6, 2008, along Lehigh Ave., in Palmerton with Craig Reppert the listed victim.

Webb placed him on probation for a year and ordered he make restitution of $800 to the victim.

Kevin Williams, 19, of Newark, N.J., pleaded to one count of false identification to law enforcement officer. He was arrested on June 16 in the area of 255 Canal St., in Franklin Township.

Webb placed him on probation for a year.

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