Carbon woman given state prison term for thefts

A Carbon County woman was sentenced to a state prison term on Tuesday in the county court on various theft counts.

Kari Ann McCoy, 39, of Palmerton, was sentenced to serve a total of 16 to 60 months in a state correctional institution by Judge Steven R. Serfass after previously pleading guilty to two counts of theft and five counts of access device fraud.

She was charged by Weatherly police for thefts involving the same family in the borough, where she had been staying. The thefts occurred between April to June 2016, and involved the taking of various types of jewelry and a debit card belonging to the victims.

McCoy asked for a county sentence to be imposed so she could apply for placement in an inpatient drug rehabilitation program. She admitted to a long-term drug addiction problem.

McCoy told Serfass, “I have had a rough past, but I’m getting help and getting better.”

Serfass said there is no dispute that McCoy has had a rough time with drug addiction but noted she only seems to do well when she is in a confined setting, like prison.

He said a state prison has the type of programs McCoy needs to address her addiction.

In addition to the prison term, Serfass ordered McCoy to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, make restitution of $369.92, pay court costs of about $1,000 and render 250 hours of community service when paroled.

McCoy, an inmate in the county prison, was given credit for 144 days spent in jail to date on the charges.