A Barnesville woman pleaded guilty to driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and two retail theft charges, explaining to the judge she stole clothing to look good at her court appearance. She was one of 19 who also pleaded guilty and were sentenced recently by Judge Jacqueline Russell in the Schuylkill County court.

Three from areaAmy M. Merenda, 23, of 57 Shady Lane, Barnesville, on a charge of DUI was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison. However, since she spent 27 days in a rehabilitation center she was released on parole. She was fined $1,000, and ordered to pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund, $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service, enroll in alcohol highway safe driving school, receive intensive outpatient counseling, submit to random tests, seek and obtain mental health evauation and driver's license suspended 12 months. She was cited by Mahanoy City Patrolman Christopher Zubris.On a charge of retail theft from Wal-Mart store, Tide Road, Rush Township, she received a concurrent 23 months probation sentence and perform an additional 20 hours community service. She was cited by Rush Patrolman Brian Thompson. On a charge of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia received a concurrent sentence of 12 months probation, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $352 to Bethlehem Regional Lab and peform an additional 20 hours community service. Merenda was cited by Mahanoy City Patrolman Brandon Alexander, when stopped on SR54 in Vulcan Village.On a second charge of retail theft from Wal-Mart she was given a concurrent 23 months probation, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours community service and make restitution of $176.91 to Wal-Mart. She was cited by Rush Officer Richard Bekesy.Rexvalore Ellison, 31, of 14 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, on a charge of criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy to commit retail theft at Wal_Mart Store, Hometown, was sentenced to serve 24 months on probation, pay $100 to SAE fund, and perform 40 hours of community service. Ellison was cited by Rush Township police.Earl Hartranft, 32, of 109 Coal St., Tamaqua, on a charge of theft from a motor vehicle, was given credit for serving 22 days in the county prison and was released on parole for 18 months, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service. He was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Dale Osenbach.On a charge of fleeing police he was sentenced to serve 93 days to 18 months and since he had credit for 93 days was immediately on parole, fined $500, pay $50 to CJEA and perform 20 hours of community service. On a charge of recklessly endangering another person he received a concurrent sentence and on a charge of theft from a motor vehicle received a concurrent 12 months probation sentence. Hartranft was cited by Trooper Alyssa Becker for theft of a cell phone from a car parked at Lowe's in East Norwegian Township.Job not doneJames Hossler, 28, Ashland, on a charge of theft by deception by failing to carry out a contract of tree cutting, was sentenced to serve 12 months on probation, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service and make restitution of $700 to Brian Klusman, 345 E. Elm St., Tamaqua, and $50 to district attorney's office. Hossler was cited by Tamaqua Cpl. Henry Woods.James John Ney, 49, of 218 N. 12th Street, Pottsville, on a charge of DUI was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison beginning Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. On a charge of driving while his operating privileges were suspended-DUI related, he was ordered to serve an additional 60 days in prison with credit for serving 36 days, pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service, complete safety school, undergo intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment and license suspended 12 months. On a charge of careless driving was fined $25 and fraudulent use of registration plates fined $100 plus $127 in costs. Ney was cited by St. Clair Chief Michael Carey.Benjamin Clayton Wentzel, 41, Saint Clair, on a charge of DUI was sentenced to serve six months to five years in the county prison with the sentence to begin Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. to allow him to make arrangements to participate in the work release program, pay a fine of $1,500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, enroll in alcohol highway safety school, receive intensive outpatient counseling, perform 20 hours of community service, submit to randon tests and driver's license suspended 18 months. Wentzel was cited by Trooper Robert Oakley when stopped on the Burma Road in Norwegian Township.Ronn W. White, 26, Cressona, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was sentenced to serve 12 months on probation, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, and perform 20 hours community service. White was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Paul Olsen.On a charge of tampering with records to gain admission to public housing was given a concurrent 12 months probation sentence, pay $50 CJEA and perform an additional 20 hours community service. On a charge of giving false statement to housing authorities was fined $1,000 and has to serve an additional five months on probation. White was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey.Nicholas Albert McCabe, 20, Shenandoah, on a charge of theft by unlawful taking cash from a private home was sentenced to serve 23 months on probation, pay a fine of $100, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service and make restitution of $120 to Kim Hautz and $60 to Kristen Hautz, Shenandoah.On a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was sentenced to serve 12 months on probation concurrrent, pay a fine of $50, pay $100 to SAE fund. McCabe was cited by Shenandoah Patrolman Gary Keppel. On a charge of another theft was given concurrent sentence of 23 months probation, pay a fine of $200, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours community service and make restitution of$120 to Agnes Shustack, Shenandoah.Darnett Neuland, 34, inmate at the state correctional institution in Mahanoy Township, on a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana was sentenced to serve 15 to 30 days with the sentence to commence at the expiration of the sentence now serving, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA and $113 to Bethlehem Regional Lab. Neuland was cited by Trooper Edward Lizewski.Sylvester Raymond Griffith, 32, Mountain Top, on a charge of criminal attempt to commit theft at Walmart Store, Saint Clair, was placed on probation 12 months, pay $50 CJEA, perform 100 hours of community service and make restitution of $39.92 to Walmart. Griffith was cited by Patrolman Joseph J. Leskin.Amber Lynn Chandler, 24, Auburn, entered a plea of nolo contendre (no defense) to a charge of criminal conspiracy was sentenced to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution, pay $50 to CJEA and perform 20 hours community service.On a charge of DUI of drugs was sentenced to serve a concurrent sentence of 90 days to five years, pay a fine of $1,500, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, $176 to Bethlehem Regional Lab, and for driving while license suspended-DUI related, received a concurrent six to 12 months sentence. Chandler was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey.David Albert Engroff, 50, Pottsville, on a charge of false imprisonment, was sentenced to serve one to 12 months in the county prison beginning Feb. 2 at 9 a.m., pay $50 CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim, Robin Keifer, Pottsville, and undergo mental health evaluation. On a charge of public drunkenness was fined $100 plus costs. Engroff was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Eugene M. Yourey.Weapon at schoolBrandon M. Maikranz, 18, Mahanoy City, on a charge of possession a weapon of crime on school property and terroristic threats, was sentenced to serve six to 18 months in the county prison with credit for having served 88 days with the sentence to begin Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m., pay $50 to CJEA, and perform 60 hours community service. Maikranz was cited by Mahanoy City Patrolman George Parnell.Michael Linkhorst, 30, Shenandoah, on a charge of delivery of a controlled substance, was sentenced to serve 10 days to 23 months in the county prison beginning Feb. 18 at 9 a.m, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, and perform 20 hours of community service.Daniel J. Day, 31, Binghamton, N.Y., on a charge of DUI was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison beginning Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours community service, complete safety school and license suspended 12 months. Day was cited by Mahanoy City Cpl. Michael Dissinger.Michael Joseph Bleashka, 37, Mahanoy City, on a charge of simple assault on a nurse at the Schuylkill Medical Center, Pottsville, was sentenced to serve 18 months on probation, pay $50 to CJEA, and perform 20 hours of community service. He was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Brian Reno.Troy Eric Maskerines, 48, Pottsville, on a charge of DUI was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in the county prison beginning Feb. 19 at 9 a.m., pay a fine of $1,000, pay $100 to SAE fund, $50 to CJEA, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, complete safety school, received outpatient substance abuse counseling, perform 20 hours of community service and license suspended 12 months. Maskerines was cited by Mahanoy Township Patrolman Brandon Alexander.Steven Robert Gundrum, 30, Temple, Berks County, on a charge of theft of a wallet and using the victim's credit card, was sentenced to serve 12 months probation, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service and make restitution of $356 to Christina Rich. Gundrum was cited by Trooper Bernard Spece.Tammy Heffner, 53, Valley View, on a charge of theft of leased property, was sentenced to serve 12 months on probation, pay $50 to CJEA, perform 20 hours of community service and make restitution of $1,566.48 to Lightining Rent to Own Store, Shenandoah. Heffner was cited by Shenandoah Lt. Gary Keppel.Each defendant must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.