A Palmerton man pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and a charge of communications with 911.

Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted pleas from 17 defendants in pending cases.

Peter E. Foder, 65, pleaded to one count of DUI for an incident on Dec. 30, 2020, filed by Palmerton police. He was originally charged with two counts of DUI and accident involving damages. The second DUI occurred on Aug. 29, 2021, also filed by Palmerton police. In that he was charged with six counts.

The third case involving a harassing call to the county’s communications center occurred on Aug. 28, 2019.

Matika deferred sentencing so Foder can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation on the DUI counts.

Assault incident

Barry Nelson George, 62, of Blakeslee, pleaded guilty to one count each of simple assault, with a deadly weapon, recklessly endangering another person, driving under suspension, careless driving and reckless driving for an incident on July 6, 202 filed by state police at Lehighton.

In exchange for the plea a felony 3 aggravated assault by vehicle was dropped.

Matika told George that sentencing guidelines calls for a prison term of between 11 to 23 months.

Sentencing was deferred and the adult probation office for ordered to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Other pleas

Christopher Ryan Gillow, 36, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct for an incident on July 5, 2017, in Nesquehoning. In a plea deal with the district attorney’s office, a felony 3 count of conspiracy - risking catastrophe was dropped.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and render 50 hours of community service.

Dylan J. Mabe, 21, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of theft of services. He was charged by Palmerton police for an incident on March 28, 2021.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and supply a DNA sample.

Ashley Lynn Neff, 37, of Danielsville, pleaded to one count each of DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension. She was arrested on Sept. 23, 2020, by state police at Lehighton.

She told the court she spent time in a inpatient facility for a drug addiction problem.

On the DUI count Matika sentenced her to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service. She was given credit for 45 days and paroled.

On the drug count she was placed on probation for a year concurrent to the DUI charge. On the suspension count he was fined $200.

Gregory Samuel Nyce, 34, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct. He was arrested on May 30 by state police at Hazleton. Charges of prowling and loitering at night, defiant trespass and public drunkenness were dropped in a plea deal.

Matika sentenced him to serve 45 to 90 days in jail with credit for 90 days already served and paroled.

Justice Scott Geary, 29, of Bowmanstown, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and render 25 hours of community service.

He was arrested on Aug. 26, 2021, by state police at Lehighton. He previously pleaded to the charge.

He will begin the jail term on Dec. 9 at 8 a.m.

Andrew Joseph Drury, 33, of Plymouth, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Aug. 20, 2021, by state police at Lehighton.

Matika sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and one year license suspension.

Gabriel Michael Hines, 20, of Weatherly, pleaded to one count of theft from a motor vehicle. He was arrested on Sept. 14, 2020. by state police at Hazleton.

Hines is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Mahanoy - Schuylkill County serving a one to three year term.

Matika placed him on probation for a year concurrent with his state term. He was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations.

Jonathan Gustave Bleich, 28, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of false identification. He was arrested on July 14 by state police at Lehighton.

Sentencing was deferred.

Christopher Sean Bucano, 39, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Sept. 5, 2021, by state police at Lehighton. He was originally charged with six counts.

He was sentenced to serve 90 days to 60 months in prison, pay a fine of $1,500, license suspended for 18 months, renders 200 hours of community service and supply a DNA sample.

He will serve the 90 days on consecutive Wednesday and Thursdays beginning Dec. 13 at 7 p. m.

Kevin Javier Concepcion, 26, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested on July 4, 2002, by state police at Lehighton.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Scott David Hinkle, 51, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of defiant trespass for an incident on March 25 filed by Franklin Township police.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Joseph Charles Springman, 49, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on June 3, 2020, by state police at Pocono.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, and license suspended for a year.

On a driving under suspension count he was fined $200.

Springman is an inmate in the state prison in Huntington County.

Andrew James Barrett, 34, of North East, Maryland, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct with four drug counts dropped in a plea deal. He was arrested on Feb. 8 by state police at Lehighton.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Marlene Noemi Benitez, 29, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on June 18, 2021, by state police at Hazleton.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.

Domingo A. Polanco, 36, of New York City, New York, pleaded to one count of fleeing or attempting to elude police. He was arrested on Jan. 21, 2021, by state police at Fern Ridge.

Sentencing was deferred.

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