Two set for trial, change minds, enter guilty pleas

Two defendants who were scheduled to go on trial this week in Carbon County court changed their minds and instead entered guilty pleas in pending cases.

Devin Marshall, 21, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of theft by deception in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

He was charged by state police at Lehighton with using his father’s credit information to make purchases at the Country Junction store in Towamensing Township. The information was filed on May 2, 2017. He was originally charged with over 25 counts including forgery and identity theft, but all were dropped in the plea agreement.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the pleas and placed Marshall on probation for six months, and he must pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.

Andrew M. Phillips, 36, of Honesdale, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

He was charged by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop on Nov. 26, 2015, in Penn Forest Township. A charge of driving under the influence of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea agreement.

Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the plea and sentenced Phillips to serve 15 to 30 days in prison, but must serve the entire 30 days, and pay court costs of about $1,000.

Phillips is currently an inmate in the Lackawanna County prison in Scranton on a probation violation.