Carbon man admits to drug-dealing counts

A Carbon County man admitted to three drug-dealing charges and a drug possession count on Monday in the county court.

Duane Eric Bonetsky, 54, formerly of Lehighton and currently an inmate in the county prison, entered guilty pleas before Judge Steven R. Serfass to three counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Bonetsky was first arrested on May 17, 2017, by Lehighton police after he sold meth to another person. His second arrest occurred on July 6, 2018, also in Lehighton, for another sale of meth. The third was on July 19, 2018, filed again by Lehighton police for an incident where police responded to a welfare check at the Gypsy Hill Garden Apartments and found drugs in the apartment, which led to the possession charge. The final arrest occurred on Oct. 25, 2018, filed by Lehighton police for another meth sale.

Serfass told Bonetsky that under state sentencing guidelines, considering the charges and his prior record, he faces a minimum prison term of somewhere between 12 and 18 months up to 240 months.

Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.