Kunkletown man given prison term for driving under suspension

A Kunkletown man, who admitted to at least 12 driving under suspension convictions, was sentenced to a prison term last week in Carbon County court.

Eric Sheeran, 53, pleaded guilty before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to one count each of driving under suspension — DUI related, and driving under suspension. He was arrested on Sept. 29, 2017, at Fourth Street and Delaware Avenue by Palmerton police.

Nanovic noted that Sheeran’s driving record also has nine convictions for driving without a license in addition to the driving while DUI and the 12 other driving under suspension counts.

Sheeran admitted that his license has been suspended since 1993.

Nanovic sentenced him to serve 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000 on the first count. He ruled the second count merges with the first for sentencing purposes.

Nanovic also rejected a request to have the jail term run concurrent with a 60-day prison term Sheeran received in Northampton County. Nanovic said his sentence would run consecutive, stating after Sheeran serves the 60 days in Northampton, he will report to the Carbon prison to serve the 90 days.

He was granted work-release privileges, which he also received in Northampton County.