Carbon County court — drug cases

A total of eight defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon Count court on Tuesday.

Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas from the following:

Vehicle stop

Christian Noel Rodriguez, 34, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — marijuana.

He was arrested on Aug. 12, 2016, following a vehicle stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. He refused to grant a consent search of his vehicle and a K-9 unit was brought to the scene which indicated drugs in the vehicle. A probable cause search was then conducted and marijuana was found.

Since his arrest, Rodriquez told Serfass he entered an inpatient drug rehabilitation program and is currently enrolled in an intensive outpatient program.

Serfass sentenced him to serve 27 days to one day less 24 months in prison with credit for 27 days spent in the rehab program and paroled him.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, supply a DNA sample and render 150 hours of community service.

Other pleas

Craig Silliman, 24, of Lehighton, pleaded to two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested by Palmerton police following a traffic stop on Sept. 13 in the 500 block of Delaware Avenue.

He has been an inmate in the county prison since his arrest.

On the first possession count Serfass sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison with credit for 40 days already served and paroled him.

On the second possession count he was placed on probation for a year consecutive to the first count; on the two paraphernalia counts, one year probation on each, with the first consecutive to the others and the second concurrent. Silliman’s total sentence is 12 months on parole followed by two years of probation.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and render a total of 200 hours of community service.

Ricky Lee Green, 55, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested on Jan. 28, 2016, after being involved in a controlled drug buy made by agents of the state Attorney General office using a confidential informant. He sold crystal methamphetamine to the CI.

Facing a jail term, sentencing was deferred so Green can apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest.

Paul David Blose, 29, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested on July 5 when Palmerton police responded to a domestic incident in the 100 block of Avenue A and found drugs at the scene belonging to Blose.

Sentencing was deferred.

David Franklin Reph, 60, of Coaldale, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on May 3 by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop along Route 248 in Parryville. He was a passenger in the vehicle and a pipe to smoke marijuana was found.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations.

Glennis Edward Park, 33, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of retail theft.

He was arrested on Sept. 8 when Palmerton police responded to the Family Dollar Store for a retail theft incident. Park had taken an item valued at $5.30. While being taken into custody the paraphernalia was found on him.

Sentencing was deferred. Park is currently an inmate in the county prison.

Alexander Forres Peters, 24, of Slatington, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on April 1, 2016, following a speeding stop by Palmerton police.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Justin Edward Oppelt, 25, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on Sept. 7 by Jim Thorpe police following a traffic stop. Drug paraphernalia and heroin were found. A charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea bargain.

Sentencing was deferred.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.