Woman gets county prison for drug dealing

A Carbon County woman was sentenced to a county prison term in the county court on Tuesday on drug dealing and related counts.

Jessica Ann Miranda, 31, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced to serve six to one day less 24 months on charges of felony count of criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of marijuana. She previously pleaded to the charges.

She was arrested on the felony count on Nov. 23, 2016, when Lansford police and members of the county drug task force served a search warrant at 32 E. Bertsch St.

Crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine and various other drug-related items, including alleged drug sale lists, were found in the home.

She was charged with one count of the paraphernalia on May 25, 2017, when Lansford police were serving an arrest warrant on her in the 200 block of East Bertsch Street. While taking her into custody, the drug paraphernalia was found. The other two charges stem from a vehicle stop on March 3, 2017, conducted by Lehighton police in the unit block of Route 443. Miranda was a front-seat passenger in the vehicle and was found with marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her purse.

Since her arrest she told the court she has been receiving drug counseling. She read a lengthy written statement concerning her use of illegal drugs and how it had affected her life. She said she had made a lot of wrong decisions and choices, adding, “I’m a changed person.”

Serfass said he would go along with the recommendation of the adult probation office contained in a presentence investigation report and sentence to a county prison term at the lower end of sentencing guidelines.

In addition to the prison term, Miranda will also serve a total of two years on probation after the prison term is completed.

She was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, supply a DNA sample, render 250 hours of community service when paroled, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and probation.

She will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on Friday.