Carbon County court — DUI
Six defendants were sentenced on Monday in Carbon County court on driving under the influence and related charges.
Judge Steven R. Serfass imposed sentences on the following, all having previously pleaded guilty to the charges.
John Charles Vrablic Jr., 38, of Lansford, was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail followed by 59 months in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program (house arrest) with the first 60 days spent on electronic monitoring. He must also pay a fine of $1,500, license suspended for 18 months, get a mental health evaluation and render a total of 100 hours of community service.
Vrablic was arrested on March 11 along Route 902 by Summit Hill police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
He will begin the jail term on Friday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. and serve the term straight.
Mario J. Cesare, 52, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.
He was arrested on Feb. 4 by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Nov. 17.
Adam J. Menech, 34, of Albrightsville, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render a total of 75 hours of community service.
He admitted to driving under the influence of a controlled substance on March 25 on Route 534 in Penn Forest Township. He was charged by state police at Fern Ridge.
He also pleaded to a charge of false swearing on Nov. 3, 2016, at Eastern Arms & Outfitters, Penn Forest Township.
State police at Fern Ridge said he made false statements on an application to purchase a firearm.
On that charge Serfass placed him on probation for a year, consecutive to the DUI charge.
He will begin the jail term at 3 p.m. on Nov. 24.
Ronald S. Hemerly, 45, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.
He was arrested on Nov. 14, 2016, along Route 903 in Jim Thorpe by state police at Lehighton.
He admitted to driving under the influence of a controlled substance, Percocet.
On a summary motor vehicle code violation he was fined $25 and costs.
He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Nov. 17.
Jeffrey Hungshang Lee, 53, of Bartonsville, was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail followed by 59 months in the IPP with the first 60 days on electronic monitoring.
He was also fined $1,500, license suspended for 18 months and must render 100 hours of community service.
He was arrested on Aug. 20, 2016, by state police at Lehighton.
He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Nov. 17, and serve it on consecutive weekends of three days each.
Robert Leroy Myers II, 27, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.
He was arrested on April 26, 2015, along Lower Smith Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.
He was given credit for 12 days spent in an inpatient rehabilitation program and paroled.
Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and follow any recommendations of their drug and alcohol evaluation.
Suspension count
Eric D. Berkowitz, 33, of Dresher, Montgomery County, was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000 and costs on a charge of driving under suspension. A charge of false identification was dropped. He was arrested on Jan. 15, 2016, in Penn Forest Township. He was charged by state police at Pocono.
