A Schuylkill County admitted in Carbon County court on Monday to setting his vehicle on fire while a Montgomery County man pleaded to having a weapon on school property.

The two defendants appeared before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Lansford incident

John Robert Curley, 55, of Pottsville, pleaded to one count of risking catastrophe in exchange for a charge of arson — danger of death or bodily injury being dropped by the district attorney. The arson count is a felony 1 while the catastrophe is a felony 3.

According to Lansford officer Joshua Tom, at 4:22 p.m. July 8, 2017, he was dispatched for a fully involved vehicle fire in the 400 block of East Bertsch Street, in the vicinity of the mid-rise.

The vehicle was registered to Curley. He was nowhere to be found during the time of the incident.

On July 9, Tom received a call from state police in Frackville, saying troopers came across Curley during the night. Curley openly admitted to setting his vehicle on fire in the borough on July 8.

Defense attorney Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, said his client has a history of mental health issues.

Matika sentenced him to serve three to 24 months in a state correction institution. He was also ordered to get a mental health evaluation, supply a DNA sample and render 50 hours of community service when paroled.

Matika ruled that sentence run concurrent with a state prison term Curley is now serving which was imposed last week in Schuylkill County court. That sentence is 22 months to five years. He was charged with setting a fire that damaged property at 132-134 S. Market St., Shenandoah, on July 7, 2017.

Weapon at school

Luke David Valentine, 21, of Norristown, pleaded to one count of possession of a weapon on school property. He was arrested on Oct. 24, 2014, by Jim Thorpe police. Valentine, who was residing in Albrightsville at the time, had a utility razor blade knife in his possession at the high school.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and to stay off the school property.

Valentine is currently an inmate in the Montgomery County prison on other charges.

Prostitution charge

Ashly L. Thomas, 32, of Walnutport, pleaded to one count of promoting prostitution-loitering for purpose of prostitution.

She was arrested by Lansford police for an incident on May 1 in the borough.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service. The term runs concurrent with a Lehigh County sentence.

The three defendants each must pay court costs of about $1,000. Valentine and Thomas must also pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.