A number of defendants scheduled for preliminary hearings before District Judge Stephen Bayer, of Tamaqua, on Feb. 21 elected to have their charges waived directly to Schuylkill County court.

Jarred Michael Muffley, 23, of Andreas, will face a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia held for court. Charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property were withdrawn by the arresting officer, Tamaqua patrolman Timothy Walsh. The charges were in connection with an Oct. 5, 2016, incident.Muffley was released on his own recognizance.Daniel Goepfert, 20, of South Tamaqua, faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, filed by Tamaqua patrolman Tanner Noecker in connection with a Jan. 15 incident. The officer withdrew a charge of criminal trespass.Goepfert remained in the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville in lieu of $5,000 bail.Joseph Cierlitsky,26, of Tamaqua, was charged with resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. The charges were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Walsh after a Jan. 21 incident.Cierlitsky remained in the Schuylkill County prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.Ashley E. Bevans,28, of Beaver Meadows, will be in county court on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness. The charges stem from an Oct. 20, 2016, incident and were filed by McAdoo patrolman Frederick Lahovski.Bevans was released on her own recognizance.Joann Faust,57, of Tamaqua, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was charged by Tamaqua patrolman Bradley Hess in connection with a July 6, 2015, incident.Faust was picked up on the charges on Jan. 18, and committed to the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville in lieu of $25,000 bail.Bail was modified to $25,000 unsecured at her preliminary hearing, ending her confinement.Gary J. Brode,56, of Tamaqua, faces trial on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and disregarding a traffic lane. He was charged by Tamaqua patrolman Lynn Yorke after an Oct. 21, 2016, incident. Brode was released on his own recognizance.Raymond Papaj Jr.,40, of Freeland, was charged with DUI of alcohol and careless driving by McAdoo patrolman Lahovski. The charges stem from an Oct. 15, 2016, incident.Papaj was released on his own recognizance.