A total of 20 defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Monday.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the pleas from the following:

Felonies dropped

Shawn Nalesnik, 47, of Summit Hill, pleaded in two pending cases to one count of possession of a controlled substance and in a second case, retail theft.

He was arrested on the drug charge on Jan. 31, 2019, by Summit Hill police along North Oak Street, as part of a controlled buy, police said. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office dropped three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.

The theft occurred at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township on Aug. 1, 2017.

On the drug charge, Matika placed Nalesnik on probation for a year and on the theft, also a year, with the terms running consecutively. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample, make restitution to Walmart for $49 and stay out of the store, and render 100 hours of community service.

Drug buy

Christopher Peter Fischi Jr., 53, of Plymouth, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility, a felony 3, in exchange for the plea two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, felonies, were dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office.

He was arrested on Nov. 24, 2014, by agents of the Attorney General’s office along Willow Lane in Nesquehoning, where he sold drugs to a confidential informant. Under state sentencing guidelines, he faces a prison term of a minimum somewhere between nine and 16 months.

Sentencing was deferred.

Three counts

Lynde Elizabeth Kuntz, 21, of Lehighton, entered guilty pleas in three pending cases to three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was arrested on the charges on Dec. 13, 2018, by state police at Hazleton along Arbon Road in Towamensing Township; June 26, 2019, also along Arbon Road by state police; and Jan 24 by Nesquehoning police at the county prison.

In exchange for the pleas, the DA’s office dropped four counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Matika placed her on probation on each count for six months with the terms running consecutively and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render a total of 75 hours of community service.

Three cases

Cameron G. Dickson, 23, of Jim Thorpe, entered guilty pleas in three pending cases to two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of burglary, reduced to a felony 2.

He was charged with the drug counts on July 10, 2017, by Kidder Township police following a traffic stop on Route 903; and Feb. 5, 2017, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township following a vehicle stop.

The burglary charge stems from an incident on Dec. 16, 2017, at a residence along Moseywood Road in Lake Harmony, Kidder Township, filed by township police.

On the burglary count Matika sentenced him to serve one to 23 months in prison with credit for four days already served. On the drug counts one year probation on each with the terms running concurrent to each other and concurrent to the burglary charge.

He was also ordered to supply a DNA sample, render 100 hours of community service when paroled and have no contact with the victim in the burglary.

Dickson is currently an inmate in the county prison facing parole/probation violations.

Milo J. Vincent Daddino, 27, of Palmerton, entered guilty pleas in three pending cases to one count of DUI and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on the drug counts on March 19 and April 4, 2019, by state police at Lehighton and Palmerton police, respectively. The DUI of a controlled substance occurred on Feb. 3, 2019, along Route 248 by state police at Lehighton.

Sentencing was deferred so Daddino can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Other pleas

Tiffany Kaylei Buskirk, 25, of Parryville, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a child.

She was arrested on July 8 by state police at Lehighton. She was found with drug paraphernalia in her residence and there were four juveniles, ages 6, 4, 2 and 5 months in the residence. Three other counts of endangering were dropped in a plea deal.

Sentencing was deferred and a presentence investigation report by the adult probation office was ordered.

Jason K. Ensel, 35, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on Sept. 22 by state police at Lehighton along Harrity Road at Interchange Road in Franklin Township following a traffic stop. Troopers noted methamphetamine was found.

He was placed on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Dustin Fierro, 24, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Nov. 13, 2019, by state police at Lehighton, along Covered Bridge Road in Lower Towamensing Township. Troopers were called to the scene by county sheriff deputies who served a warrant on Fierro and found methamphetamine.

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.

William C. Kaufman, 28, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and two summary offenses of driving under suspension and speeding.

He was arrested on Sept. 1, by Weatherly police, along East Main Street following a vehicle stop.

On the drug count he was placed on probation for six months, and on the suspension count fined $200 and on the speeding count fined $63.

Iesha Jenee Robbins, 27, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Aug. 5 by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township.

She was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

Jason Michael Boyle, 27, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with a charge of defiant trespass dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on July 18 by Franklin Township police at the Country Inn & Suites along Interchange Road. Police responded to the business for a report of an unwanted man and woman. Boyle was the man involved and found with the paraphernalia.

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

Dana E. Perdue, 31, of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and hindering apprehension.

He was arrested on Aug. 7, by state police at Lehighton along Forest Inn Road and Delaware Avenue in Lower Towamensing Township, following a vehicle stop. He was a passenger in the vehicle. Troopers indicate methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. Also in the vehicle was a wanted person who police said Perdue interfered with him being taken into custody.

He was placed on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Brittany Harvey-Taylor, 31, of Teaneck, New Jersey, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on Aug. 26 by state police at Fern Ridge along I-80 in Kidder Township after being stopped for speeding.

She was fined $100.

Patrick Joseph Kelly Jr., 34, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on July 12 by Weatherly police along First Street.

He was fined $150.

James Xavier Sierra, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Feb. 14, 2016, by state police at Fern Ridge along I-80 in Kidder Township, following a traffic stop.

He was fined $200.

Jennifer Mary Nieves, 35, of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Aug. 4, 2017, by state police at Fern Ridge along I-80 in Kidder Township following a traffic stop.

She was fined $200.

Christian Cruz Astacio, 31, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on July 10 by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop along Pohopoco Drive in Towamensing Township.

He was fined $150.

Nicholas Matthew Capriglione, 28, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on Feb. 17, 2014, along Gower Lane by Kidder Township police. Police originally responded to a domestic dispute.

He was fined $150.

Shawn T. Hoffman, 40, of Drums, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension. He was arrested on June 28 by Weatherly police along Plane Street following a traffic stop.

On the drug count he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of community service. On the suspension charge he was fined $200.

Jubalani Jones, 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded to one count of possession of marijuana. He was arrested on April 21, 2014, by Kidder Township police at the Holiday Pocono, Route 534, in Albrightsville.

He was fined $150.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee if on probation or parole.