Carbon County court – guilty pleas

Three defendants in pending criminal cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II accepted the pleas from the following:

Jeffrey Alan Hawk, 38, of Allentown, pleaded to one count each of persistent disorderly conduct and a summary offense of driving under suspension.

He was arrested on March 31, 2015, along Mauch Chunk Road in Palmerton by state police at Lehighton following a short chase. A charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police was dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

On the conduct count Nanovic placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment. On the suspension charge he was fined $500 and costs.

Tyler Charles Deihl, 23, of Kunkletown, pleaded to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of driving under suspension. He was originally charged with eight counts with a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

Deihl was arrested on Jan. 5 by Lehighton police in the 500 block of South Ninth Street following a traffic stop. Quantities of heroin and methamphetamine were found in the vehicle, along with needles, a digital scale, smoking devices and wrapping papers all used in drug use.

Nanovic deferred sentencing because Deihl needs a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI charge.

Jennifer Diefenderfer, 34, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of theft.

She was arrested by Jim Thorpe police on Feb. 6 for taking a child’s size shopping cart from the Jim Thorpe Market. The cart has been returned.

Nanovic placed her on probation for six months.

Hawk and Diefenderfer must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.