Palmerton man admits to drug dealing, wants to enter special state program

A Palmerton man pleaded guilty on Monday afternoon in Carbon County court to a drug dealing charge and wants to enter a special state prison program that deals with addiction problems.

Steven Richard Swartz, 31, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

He was arrested on Sept. 25 by Lehighton police at a residence along Susquehanna Street. The arrest was part of a county drug task force investigation of a drug operation.

Members of the task force learned from a confidential informant that Swartz had gone to the Hazleton area to purchase meth and bring it back to Carbon County to distribute. The police report indicated that $4,000 worth of meth was purchased by Swartz, but he disputed that amount saying it was much less.

Swartz is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges.

Judge Steven R. Serfass told Swartz because of the charge and his prior criminal record he faces a minimum prison term of between 23 and 27 months, which would put him in the state system.

Serfass deferred sentencing so Swartz can apply for placement in the state’s Intermediate Punishment Program. The program runs for two years and includes about seven months in prison followed by a period of time in an intensive drug treatment program and then followed by a period of time in a halfway house. If Swartz is accepted in the program then Serfass will sentence him at a later date. If he is rejected for the program he will then face sentencing under state guidelines. He will now be transferred to a state correctional institution to be evaluated for the program.