Carbon man sent to state prison in seven criminal cases

A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term on Tuesday afternoon in seven criminal cases.

Jarred Rick Lee West, 26, of Lehighton, was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve a total of one to five years in a state prison on two counts each of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of drug paraphernalia, three counts of driving while under suspension, two of the three while DUI suspended, and one count of theft. He previously pleaded guilty in six of the cases and on Tuesday pleaded to another DUI count. The prison term will be followed by one year of probation.

West’s cases took a long time coming before a judge. The case was continued at least 18 times. Some of the continuances were due to the fact West was in the Lehigh County prison on other criminal charges.

West blamed all of his contacts with the legal system on a long-term drug addiction problem. He said he went to one inpatient program with the Salvation Army but failed to complete it.

He told the court, “It’s time to do what is right.”

West and his grandmother asked the court to give him a county sentence. He said once he finished the county term he would enter an inpatient program.

Nanovic said West has spent time in county and it didn’t help. Nanovic said, “The state system will give you the help you need.”

West pleaded to fleeing and eluding police and driving under suspension in an incident on May 30, 2016. Police attempted to stop him and he fled. A chase ensued on several streets in Lehighton before his vehicle became disabled. He then fled on foot. He was not immediately located, but a female passenger in the vehicle with West identified him as the driver. He was later picked up on a warrant.

One count of possession of drug paraphernalia was for an incident on Nov. 2, 2016, along Jamestown Street filed by Mahoning Township police. He was found slumped over the wheel of a vehicle. When taken into custody, the paraphernalia was found.

Cases he pleaded to included on July 10, 2016, West was involved in a standoff with police at 351½ N. Second St., Lehighton, which lasted an hour. At the time, Carbon County Sheriff Tony Harvilla said sheriff’s deputies were attempting to serve a warrant at the home when they were alerted to a potential firearm. West was taken into custody without incident.

The DUI count he pleaded to was for an incident on May 6, 2017, at Eighth and Union streets by Lehighton police.

West was ordered to pay fines totaling $5,700, total license suspensions of 36 months, pay restitution of $166.99 in the theft case and pay court costs of about $1,000. He was given credit for a total of 228 days already served.