Ten area people were among 24 who entered guilty pleas to criminal charges last Thursday in the Schuylkill County court and were sentenced by Judge Charles M. Miller as follows:

Charles J. Durning, 27, of 328 W. Ridge St., Lansford, pleaded guilty to simple assault as charged by Cpl. Henry Woods, Tamaqua police, and was given credit for serving three days in the Schuylkill County prison and was released on probation for 23 months, and ordered to pay $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA). On a charge of endangering the welfare of a child received a concurrent sentence and he must enroll in Anger Management Program.Thomas K. McCabe Jr., 25, of 326 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia when cited by Patrolman Jonathan McHugh, Rush Township police, on Tuscarora Park Road in Barnesville. He was placed on probation 12 months, and ordered to pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund, $50 to CJEA, and make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.Robert Thaddeus Morris, 56, of 18 Mauch Chunk St., Tamaqua, pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance in the area of his residence and was sentenced to serve 12 to 24 months in a state correctional institution; pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, a fine of $100, make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab, and $30 to Tamaqua Police Drug Task Force. His sentence will be effective June 20, however, he must report to the probation department on May 28 and June 4 and 11 and to the sheriff on June 20 at 9:30 a.m. for transportation to the state facility. He received credit for 113 days in the county prison.Helene C. Grutza, 35, of 39 Vulcan Road, Barnesville, Rush Township, pleaded guilty to retail theft of cosmetic products from Walmart Store, Rush Township, and was ordered to pay $50 to CJEA, and make restitution of $80.33 to the store. On a charge of defiant trespass was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Grutza was cited by Patrolman Jonathan McHugh.Marc Tita, 29, of 566 Blue Mountain Drive, Andreas, West Penn Township, pleaded guilty to removal of a license plate off the car of Gary Fenstermacher, Blue Montain Drive, and was placed on probation 12 months, and pay $50 to CJEA. On a charge of driving while his operating privileges were suspended was fined $200 plus $50 costs. Tita was cited by Chief Brian Johnson, West Penn Township police.Joan Marie Mertz, 49, of 2 Grier Avenue, Barnesville, Rush Township, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison, pay a fine of $1,000, $100 to SAE fund. $50 to CJEA, $50 to Catastrophe fund, and make restitution of $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center. Mertz also must attend the alcohol highway safety school and receive intensive outpatient counseling and her license is suspended 12 months. Mertz was cited by Patrolman Robert Minnick, Coaldale police. On a summary charge of disregarding the traffic lane was fined $25 plus $50 costs.Cody Patrick Sliker, 21, of 44 S. Walnut St., Lansford, pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $50 to Catastrophe fund, make restitution of $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend alcohol highway safety school and receive outpatient counseling. On a summary charge of exceeding the speed limit on SR209, Tamaqua, by traveling 40.3 miles-per-hour in a 25 zone was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Sliker begins his prison sentence Tuesday, June 8, at 9:30 a.m. at the county prison. Sliker was cited by Patrolman Jeffrey Wainwright, Tamaqua police.Judi Yvonne Olson, 42, of 99 Pine St., Sheppton, East Union Township, pleaded guilty to DUI and was placed in Immediate Punishment Program (IPP) for five years with the first 30 days to be spent in the county prison beginning Friday, June 4, followed by 90 days under house arrest with electronic monitoring at a cost of $12 per day, followed by 30 days wearing a SCRAM bracelet at $12 per day, followed by four years probation. Olson also was ordered to pay a fine of $1,500, pay $300 to SAE fund, $100 to Catastrophe fund, and perform 10 hours community service. On a summary charge of careless driving was fined $25 plus $50 costs. She received credit towards her sentence for spending 28 days in a rehab center. Olson was cited by Trooper Paul Hardock. Her driver's license is suspended 18 months.David R. Pallavicini, 53, of 537 E. Patterson St., Lansford, pleaded guilty to DUI and was placed in the IPP for six months with the first 15 days to be served under house arrest with electronic monitoring at $12 per day cost, followed by 45 days strict probation and four months regular probation, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, attend alcohol highway safety school, make restitution of $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, perform 10 hours community service and license is suspended 12 months. Pallavicini was cited by Patrolman Jeffrey Wainwright, Tamaqua police.Rasha Hunt, 21, West Hazleton, pleaded guilty to charges of forgery, receiving stolen property, theft and access device fraud and was sentenced to serve one to 23 months in the county prison, pay $50 to CJEA and make restitution of $660 to Joseph Baranko, McAdoo. He begins serving his prison sentence on Thursday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. Hunt was cited by OfficerScott Kramer, Kline Township police. On a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia as charged by Patrolman Alfred Walsh, McAdoo police, he was placed on an additional 12 months probation, pay $50 to CJEA and make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.Eric James Weeks, 20, of 88 E. Main St., Quakake, Rush Township, pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance in Coaldale and was sentenced to serve 12 months on probation, pay $100 to SAE fund, $30 to Tamaqua Police Department, and $113 to Bethlehem Regional lab. Weeks was cited by Sgt. Richard Weaver, Tamaqua police.Jessica Marie O'Boyle, 22, Ashland, pleaded guilty to DUI, and was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to Catastrophe fund, $50 to the CJEA and make restitution of $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center. Her driving privileges are suspended for 12 months. She also has to enroll in the alcohol highway safety school. On a charge of passing a bad check to pay her apartment rent was ordered to serve an additional 12 months on probation and make restitution of $1,168 to James and Amy Freed, of Ashland.Dustin Thomas Makara, 27, Ringtown, pleaded guilty to DUI of drugs was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, make restitution of $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend alcohol highway safe driving school and perform 10 hours community service. His license is suspended 12 months. Makara was cited by Trooper Thomas Cuff when stopped on SR924 in West Mahanoy Township.Jessica Lynn Wenrich, 20, Ashland, pleaded guilty to retail theft of merchandise from Turkey Hill Mini Mart in Ashland where she was employed and was sentence to pay a fine of $150 and make restitution of $32.97 to the store.Jason Allen Strunk, 28, Reading, pleaded guilty to a number of charges. He was sentenced on the charge of resisting arrest in Minersville to serve 12 months on probation, make restitution to Jeffrey Kline, Minersville, $200, and to the Minersville Police $176.30. On a charge of disorderly conduct received a 12 months probation sentence to run concurrent to the resisting arrest and two counts of criminal mischief was fined $200 plus costs. He also was ordered to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.Robert W. Merwine, 23, Gordon, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was placed on probation 12 months, pay a fine of $100, pay $100 to SAE fund , $50 to CJEA, and make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. He was cited by the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.Amira Angel Garcia, 20, Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to making false reports to police claiming his vehicle was stolen but investigation by police determined the car was involved in an accident on Interstate 81 in Pine Grove Township and he was the driver. Garcia was placed on probation 12 months and ordered to pay $50 to CJEA. He was cited by Trooper Alyssa Becker.Mark Anthony Billus Jr., 23, Ashland, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance when cited by the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force at 11th and Centre sts., Ashland. Billus was placed on probation 12 months, fined $100, pay $50 to CJEA, make restitution of $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab and $25 to drug task force.Charles Eric Berger, 35, Friedensburg, pleaded guilty to simple assault on Tammy A. Moerder, Friedens Manor Drive, Wayne Township, and was placed on probation 18 months, pay $50 to CJEA, and have no contract with the victim. Berger was cited by Trooper Alyssa Becker.Robert John Miller, 53, Pottsville, pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance and was sentenced to serve 21 to 42 months in a state correctional facility. He was ordered to surrender to Sheriff Joseph Groody on Thursday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. to be transported to a state facility. Miller also was ordered to pay $50 to CJEA, $40 to Pottsville Police Drug Task Force and $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.Edward Willliam Sonnon, 24, Pottsville, pleaded guilty to harassing Kimberly Sonnon and was ordered to pay a fine of $100 and court costs.Amanda Spillane, 25, Warminster, pleaded guilty to retail theft of 69 items from Walmart Store in Rush Township and was placed on probation 12 months, pay $50 to CJEA, and make restitution of $668.51 to the store. Spillane was cited bu Patrolman Brian Thompson.Galen John Vandermeer, 36, Pottsville, pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $50 to Catastrophe fund, make restitution of $176 to Bethlehem Regional Lab, attend alcohol highway safety school and receive structured outpatient counseling. Vandermeer was cited by Patrolman Richard Pugh, Pottsville Police.Rachel Ann Serakas, 29, Pottsville, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia when cited by Cpl. Dennis Wiederhold, Pottsville police, and was placed on probation 12 months, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA and make restitution of $176 to Bethlehem Regional Lab.Each defendant must pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.