Palmerton woman sentenced in retail theft

Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika admonished a young Palmerton woman as he sentenced her to 95 days to a year in jail for retail theft.

Zoey D. Bartenope’s problems are deeper than a shoplifting charge, however.

Bartenope, 20, has a drug addiction, and has been before Matika several times.

She was charged by Nesquehoning police with retail theft, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia on June 26.

She pleaded guilty to retail theft on Nov. 21. The other charges were dropped.

This was her third such charge, said Assistant District Attorney Cynthia A. Dyrda Hatton.

Bartenope also faces retail theft charges in Northampton and Schuylkill counties. Currently in Carbon County prison on a parole violation, she appeared in Matika’s courtroom wearing prison drab, cuffed and shackled.

“You’ve put yourself behind an 8-ball, and I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to get out from behind it,” he told her.

Matika admonished her for not seeking help for her addiction.

Bartenope said she has applied to the Salvation Army for long-term treatment, but must be 21 before she can be accepted.

She’ll turn 21 on Feb. 21.

Matika sentenced her to 95 days to one year in jail, with credit for the 95 days she has already served.

He also ordered Bartenope to perform 50 hours of community service, obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any treatment recommendations, imposed zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, pay $18.64 restitution to the Fuel Up in Nesquehoning, and submit a DNA sample.

Bartenope also must pay court costs and fees.