A Palmerton man pleaded guilty last week in the county court in two criminal cases and was sentenced to prison.

Ryan M. Eckhart, 37, pleaded to one count each of flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest for an incident on July 8, 2022, in Palmerton. Sheriff deputies went to a residence along Lehigh Avenue to serve a warrant on Eckhart and he fled but was later apprehended.

In the second case he pleaded to one count of driving under suspension for an incident on Nov. 9, 2020, also in Palmerton.

Eckhart is serving a 24 to 48 months term in the state prison at Chester, Chester County, imposed by Carbon County. A jury found him guilty of possession of a controlled substance - contraband in the prison.

Judge Joseph J. Matika sentenced Eckhart to time-served (178 days) to 24 months in a state prison in the first case.

In the suspension case he was sentenced to serve six to 12 months in the county prison. The term runs concurrent with his state sentence.

He was also ordered to supply a DNA sample, render 75 hours of community service when paroled, pay a fine of $2,500 on the suspension charge and pay court costs of over $1,000.