Palmerton man given state prison term for theft, DUI

A Palmerton man was sentenced to a state prison term on Thursday afternoon after previously pleading guilty to charges of theft by receiving stolen property (a felony) and driving under the influence.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II sentenced Robert Werner, 37, to serve a total of two to four years in a state correctional institution.

He was arrested on Dec. 22, 2017, by Palmerton police for his involvement in taking a Chevrolet Aveo belonging to a borough resident without permission. Police were able to track the car because the victim’s cellphone was in the vehicle. The DUI occurred the same day when police tracked him down in the vehicle. He was found to be under the influence.

Nanovic also ordered Werner to make restitution of $631, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, pay court costs of about $1,000 and supply an DNA sample. On the DUI count he was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and license suspended for a year.

Werner, who is currently in the state correctional institution at Mahanoy, Schuylkill County, was given credit for 461 days already served. Nanovic ruled his sentence run concurrent with any sentence Werner is now serving.