A Carbon County man was sentenced to a county prison term on Monday after pleading guilty in a gun possession case.

He was one of five defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Six guns

Douglas James Ahner, 58, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of instruments of crime, a misdemeanor 1, in exchange for a felony 2 charge of possession of firearm prohibited, dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested on Dec. 15, 2021, by state police at Lehighton, who responded to a report of an incident at the Ahner home. A relative of the defendant sent out an alarm on his cellphone, which prompted the response. Six long guns were found in the home. Ahner, because of prior criminal convictions, is prohibited from possession firearms.

Defense Attorney Matthew J. Rapa noted several letters of support for Ahner. He said the guns were given to him by a relative and were locked in a safe.

Serfass sentenced Ahner to serve six to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 100 hours of community service.

He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on July 22 and was granted work-release privileges.

Other pleas

Paul Robert Moon, 34, of Weatherly, entered pleas in two pending cases to one count of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. In that case a charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal.

The DUI arrest occurred on July 7, 2021, by Lehighton police. The drug arrest occurred on Oct. 10, 2019, filed by Nesquehoning police.

Sentencing was deferred so Moon can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI charge. He is currently an inmate in the Luzerne County prison on other criminal charges.

Jesus Bracero, 26, of Palmerton, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct, with a misdemeanor one offense of possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Feb. 2, 2020, by Lehighton police. Police were called to the area of the Sunoco station on Route 443 for a disturbance. On scene officers found a group of people engaged in an altercation. Also found was a set of brass knuckles, which Bracero admitted were his.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300 and costs.

Michael Halulko, 34, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine. He was arrested by state police at Lehighton on Nov. 22, 2021, along North Street in Lehighton. Troopers were serving a warrant when they found drugs on him.

Sentencing was deferred as he has another pending case.

Tiffany A. Schumacher, 30, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with three counts of possession of a controlled substance dropped in a plea deal.

She was arrested on June 20, 2020, by Jim Thorpe police.

In June she entered a guilty plea to another possession of drug paraphernalia charge with a possession of a controlled substance count dropped. In that case she was placed on probation for six months by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Serfass placed her on probation for six months, consecutive to the June case, and ordered she render 25 hours of community service.

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