Interstate 80 in Carbon County is an apparent roadway used by drug dealers and users as13 people who were stopped along the superhighway by state police at Fern Ridge either entered guilty pleas or were placed in a probation program following Carbon County court proceedings last week.

There were another four defendants on Friday's list for court action with three having their cases continued and the fourth not showing up and having a bench warrant issued for his arrest.Crack cocaineA vehicle stop on Feb. 11 in Kidder Township resulted in the arrest of four people, all from Clearfield, Clearfield County. Three of the four pleaded guilty Friday. The fourth defendant, Dennis J. Rauch, 31, had his case continued.John Paul Crossen, 33, Amy I. Krause, 39, and Johnalee Smeal, 32, all pleaded to drug-related counts and were sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika.At the stop troopers found 242 vials of crack cocaine in the vehicle. The police report stated that the four had claimed they "pooled" their money, went to Philadelphia and purchased the drugs, and were returning home. All said the purchased drugs were for personal use.Crossen pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to serve four to 12 months in the county prison on the charge with credit for 51 days already spent. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and zero tolerance imposed on drug and alcohol use. He is facing a parole violation in Clearfield County, it was noted, and has a detainer lodged against him at the county prison.Krause, 39, another passenger, pleaded one count of possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to serve two to 12 months in the county prison with credit for 51 days already served. She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.Smeal, the driver, also pleaded to possession. Matika sentenced her to serve two to 12 months in the county prison with credit for 51 days already served. She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.Other casesOther defendants arrested along the interstate who pleaded guilty included:Chaquille Karan Smith, 22, and Juan Romero, 20, both of Philadelphia, were arrested on Dec. 30, 2015. Found in the vehicle was 33 grams of cocaine. It was also learned at the stop that Smith had an outstanding warrant for his arrest out of Philadelphia County.Smith pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was sentenced to serve 24 to 54 months in a state prison followed by three years of state probation based on a prior criminal record which includes drug-related convictions.He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, and supply a DNA sample. The term runs concurrent with a prison term imposed in Philadelphia.Romero pleaded to two counts of possession of a controlled substance - cocaine and heroin, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was sentenced to serve a total of five to 12 months in the county prison, followed by one year of probation, with credit for 94 days already served. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and render 50 hours of community service when released on parole.William Christopher Russell Jr., 22, of Williamsport, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-marijuana. He was arrested on Sept. 29, 2015, in East Side Borough. He was a passenger in the vehicle in which a pound of marijuana was found. There were two other passengers and the driver, but Russell took responsibility for the drugs.He was placed on probation for two years and ordered to render 100 hours of community service, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and supply a DNA sample.Tyrone Ronnie Baxter Jr., 24, of Bethlehem, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was stopped on Nov. 8, 2015.He was placed on probation for six months and must render 25 hours of community service.Stephen James Runyan, 24, of Shippenville, Clarion County, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was stopped on Sept. 26, 2013. He was previously placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked for violating conditions.Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered he render 25 hours of community service.Shawn Robert Hodle, 39, of Luzerne, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence. He was arrested on Dec. 14, 2015, in Kidder Township. A test showed 0.17 BAC.He was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail, a fine of $300, one-year license suspension, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and render 25 hours of community service. He began the jail term immediately.Thomas Douglass McIver, 62, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Dec. 22, 2015, in Kidder Township. A test showed 0.09 BAC.He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 and render 25 hours of community service.ARDThree defendants in stops were placed in the ARD program as first-time offenders. The three were placed on DUI charges.Doran Van Anderson, 53, of Williamsport, was arrested on Dec. 1, 2015, in Kidder Township. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance. She was assessed $600 for the cost of the program and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and her license was suspended for 60 days.Joseph James Patchoski, 31, of Scranton, was arrested on Dec. 5, 2015, in East Side Borough. Given a test, the result was 0.13 BAC. He was assessed $500, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 30 days.Charles Prinzivalli, 56, of Freeland, was arrested on Sept. 27, 2015, in East Side Borough. A test showed 0.11 BAC. He was assessed $500, ordered to render 50 hours of community service and his license was suspended for 30 days.All the defendants must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.