Carbon County court – DUI

Carbon County Judge Steven R. Serfass handled a number of cases in the county’s first DUI court Tuesday.

The special court is aimed at reducing the numbers of defendants scheduled to plead guilty or be sentenced by siphoning those charged with driving under the influence into a monthly DUI court.

The next DUI court is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2019.

On Tuesday, Serfass handled the cases of those who had pleaded guilty and were awaiting sentencing, accepted guilty pleas from others, and admitted some in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.

If admitted into ARD, defendants may have their court records expunged if they successfully complete the program. Being accepted into ARD, which is for first-time, nonviolent offenders, is not an admission of guilt.

All of the defendants were ordered to pay out costs and fees in addition to any fines that were imposed. They were also ordered to complete an Alcohol Highway Safety Program, and abide by any drug and alcohol evaluation recommendations.

Those sentenced by Serfass on Tuesday were:

Alicia Koons, 30, of Bowmanstown, who was arrested on Feb. 28, 2018, by Nesquehoning police at Mermon Avenue and East Catawissa Street. A test revealed a 0.24 blood alcohol content.

Serfass sentenced her to five days to six months in jail, with immediate parole after she completes the five days on a DUI charge.

He also fined her $500, and ordered her to perform 25 hours of community service. Koons’ driver’s license was suspended for 12 months.

Jacob L. Lazar, 27, of Weatherly, was arrested on Nov. 8, 2017, along Lehigh Gorge Drive in Lehigh Township by state police at Hazleton. A test revealed a 0.25 blood alcohol content.

Serfass sentenced him to two days in jail, followed by five months and 28 days on intermediate punishment (electronic monitoring) on a DUI charge. He’ll begin his sentence at 10 a.m. Dec. 29.

Serfass also ordered Lazar to perform 25 hours of community service, and fined him $750. Lazar’s driver’s license is suspended for 12 months. Serfass also fined him $25 on a charge of careless driving.

Samantha J. Nedley, 35, of Nesquehoning, was arrested on Feb. 26, 2018, along Ridge Street by Lansford police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Serfass sentenced her to 72 hours to six months in jail. She’ll serve her 72 hours beginning at 10 a.m. Jan. 4.

Serfass fined her $1,000, and ordered her to perform 25 hours of community service. Nedley’s driver’s license was suspended for 12 months.

Justin Mooney, 29, of Lehighton, was arrested on June 6, 2018, by Lehighton police along Route 443. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

Serfass sentenced him to 72 hours to six months in jail.

Serfass fined him $1,000, and ordered him to perform 25 hours of community service. Mooney’s driver’s license was suspended for 12 months.

Marcio O. Silva, 37, of Albrightsville, was arrested on Oct. 18, 2015, by Kidder Township police along Route 903 in Albrightsville. A test revealed a 0.15 blood alcohol content. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was removed from it for violating its conditions.

Serfass sentenced him to six months on probation and fined him $300.

Serfass accepted pleas from these people.

Jeffrey M. Butz, 40, of Lehighton, was arrested on March 17, 2018, by Palmerton police along Mauch Chunk Road. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, in his blood.

He pleaded guilty to DUI, a first offense.

Serfass sentenced him to 72 hours to six months in jail, fined him $1,000, and ordered him to perform 25 hours of community service. Butz’ driver’s license was suspended for 12 months.

Stacie D. Rich, 46, of Albrightsville, arrested Sept. 23, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along Old Stage Road Towamensing Township. Her blood alcohol content was 0.08.

She pleaded guilty to DUI, and Serfass placed her on probation for six months, fined her $300, and ordered her to perform 25 hours of community service.

Rich was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant.

Randall S. Snyder, 59, of Weissport, was arrested on March 25, 2018, by state police at Lehighton, along Bridge St., Lehighton. His blood alcohol content was 0.20.

He pleaded guilty to DUI, and Serfass sentenced deferred sentencing until Jan. 24.

Edward Weiss Jr., 43, of Palmerton, arrested on May 24, 2018, by Palmerton police along Delaware Avenue. His blood alcohol content was 0.21.

He pleaded guilty to DUI, and Serfass sentenced him to five days to six months in jail. He’ll serve the five days on weekends beginning Dec. 28.

Serfass fined Weiss $500, and ordered him to perform 25 hours of community service.

Jerry A. MacWilliams, 64, of Cinnaminson, New Jersey, was arrested on July 28, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township. His blood alcohol content was 0.12.

MacWilliams pleaded guilty to DUI, and Serfass placed him on probation for six months. He also fined MacWilliams $300, and ordered him to perform 25 hours of community service.

Serfass accepted these people into the ARD program.

Kyle J. Doutt, 29, of Port Allegany, McKean County, was arrested on July 28, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Kidder Township. His blood alcohol content was 0.20.

Serfass accepted Doutt into ARD for 12 months, and ordered him to pay $550 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Doutt to perform 50 hours of community service, and his license will be suspended for 60 days.

Melissa S. Holton, 35, of Lehighton, was arrested on Sept. 7, 2018, by Lehighton police along East Street. Her blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass accepted her into ARD for 12 months and ordered her to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He also ordered her to perform 50 hours of community service, and she’ll lose her license for 60 days.

Kyle T. Rupert, 27, of Bethlehem, was arrested on Aug. 18, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along Delaware Avenue in Palmerton. His blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass admitted him to ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Rupert to perform 50 hours of community service. Rupert’s driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

Amy L. Scherer, 44, of Tamaqua, was arrested June 3, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along First Street in Lehighton. Her blood alcohol content was 0.12.

Serfass admitted her into ARD for 12 months and ordered her to pay $500 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Scherer to perform 50 hours of community service. Her driver’s license is suspended for 30 days.

Andrew J. Stahler, 29, of Coaldale, was arrested on May 30, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along Summer Mountain Road in East Penn Township after a crash. His blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass admitted him to ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Stahler to perform 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

Dakota T. Strawcutter, 25, of Allentown, was arrested on Feb. 28, 2018, by Palmerton police along Delaware Avenue. His blood alcohol content was 0.23.

Serfass admitted him to ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $550 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Strawcutter to perform 50 hours of community service. Strawcutter’s driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

Johnathan Ulshafer, 22, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on Sept. 8, 2018, by Lehighton police along East Penn Street. His blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass admitted him to ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Ulshafer to perform 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

Robert Valencik, 23, of Blakeslee, was arrested July 25, 2018, by Palmerton police along Delaware Avenue. His blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass admitted him to ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Valencik to perform 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

Andrew W. Watkins, 31, of Lansford, was arrested July 19, 2018, by Lansford police along Patterson Street. His blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass admitted him into ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Watkins to perform 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.

Dakota J. Woodard, 22, of Lansford, was arrested on June 3, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township. His blood tested positive for a controlled substance.

Serfass admitted him into ARD for 12 months and ordered him to pay $600 to offset the cost of the program. He ordered Woodard to perform 50 hours of community service. His driver’s license is suspended for 60 days.