Several defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas recently before Judge Steven R. Serfass in Carbon County court.

Tammi Lynne Richardson,41, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested by state police vice unit members out of the Hazleton barracks on Sept. 23, 2015, in the area of 116 Bridge St., Lehighton, with heroin. Other charges, including criminal conspiracy to possess and deliver a controlled substance, were dropped.She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on drug and alcohol use and render 50 hours of community service.Brooke Lee Heine,28, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine. She was arrested by state police at Hazleton vice unit on Oct. 23, 2014, in the area of South First Street Lehighton after she sold drugs to a confidential informant, which led to a search warrant of her residence.Serfass placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.Keri Ann Nicholas,34, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Sept. 24, 2015, in the area of 92 E. Bridge St., by Lehighton police.She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.Michael Steven Cardone,29, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-Suboxone. He was arrested by Palmerton police on Nov. 22, 2015, in the area of 146 Delaware Ave.Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered a presentence investigation report.Durell Lamont Cotton,30, of Bath, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested by Lehighton police for an incident around Oct. 19, 2015.He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.Francis Xavier McHugh III,30, of Weissport, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility. He was arrested on July 1, 2015, by state police vice unit from Hazleton for selling heroin to a confidential informant in the area of 345 White St., Weissport.Other drug counts, including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, were dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney's office.Sentencing was deferred to March 15. McHugh is attempting to get into a long-term inpatient rehabilitation program.Jacob Michael Dombek,23, of Swoyersville, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on Nov. 25, 2015, along Maury Road in Penn Forest Township by state police following a vehicle stop.Serfass imposed a fine of $300.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.