Two scheduled for trial instead enter guilty pleas

Two defendants scheduled to go on trial this week in Carbon County criminal court instead changed their minds and entered guilty pleas after reaching a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

Steven Mika, 32, of Weissport, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was arrested by Mahoning Township on May 12, 2017, in the 100 block of Jamestown Street, where police went to serve a warrant on him and found him with illegal substances.

In exchange for the plea charges of criminal conspiracy, of possession with intent to deliver; possession of a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia; recklessly endangering another person; and resisting arrest were dropped.

Judge Steven R. Serfass sentenced him to serve 12 to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance on drug and alcohol use, and when released on parole render 200 hours of community service.

The term runs concurrent with a state sentence of 11 to 24 months imposed on June 14, 2017.

Brian J. Binder, 47, of Walnutport, pleaded to one count of theft for an incident on June 6, 2017, in Penn Forest Township. He stole a 2007 FSI utility trailer from a township resident.

Serfass sentenced him to serve one to 23 months in prison and ordered he render 100 hours of community service when paroled.

In exchange for the plea, charges of receiving stolen property and resisting arrest were dropped.

The sentence runs concurrent with a prison term he is serving in Lehigh County.

Both defendants must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.