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Carbon County court - DUI

A Lehigh County resident pleaded guilty on Thursday in Carbon County court to driving under the influence and recklessly endangering another person.

He was one of six people to plea to DUI before Judge Steven R. Serfass.Sean Roy Trujillo, 48, of Allentown, was arrested on Aug. 24, 2016, when township police responded to a reported a hit-and-run crash along Route 2012. Police said Trujillo and his wifewere involved in a dispute at a residence. She left the residence in her vehicle with the defendant following. He admitted being under the influence of alcohol at the time and attempting to force his wife off the road. Trujillo's vehicle left the road and crashed.Serfass deferred sentencing for Trujillo to receive a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation.Other pleasLena Catherine Kunath, 56, of Albrightsville, was arrested on April 10, 2016, along Sycamore Circle in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test revealed a 0.15 BAC.A first offense, she was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 and render 25 hours of community service.Christopher Andrew Strauss, 27, of Lehighton, was arrested on Dec. 7, 2013, along Coal Street in Lehighton by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was previously placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked for violating conditions.He also pleaded to one count of attempting to submit false urine for a test. He appeared at the adult probation office on Jan. 23, 2015, at the courthouse to get a urine screen and attempted to submit false urine.Serfass deferred sentencing so Strauss can receive a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI charge.Joe Matthew Neff, 30, of New Tripoli, was arrested on Sept. 2, 2015, along Mauch Chunk Street by Mahoning Township police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.He was also facing a DUI charge for a Sept. 26, 2015, incident along Canal Street filed by state police at Lehighton. That charge was dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney's office and he pleaded to a summary motor vehicle code violation of no taillights.Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for placement in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program - house arrest.Samantha Lynn Wilson, 25, of Lehighton, was arrested on Feb. 2 along Route 209 at the Weissport bridge by Lehighton police. A test revealed a controlled substance. She also pleaded to one count of driving under suspension - DUI related.Sentencing was deferred so Wilson can receive a drug and alcohol evaluation. She is currently an inmate in the county prison.Joshua A. Strawser, 32, of Lehighton, was arrested on Jan. 28 along at Coal and Seventh streets by Lehighton police. A test revealed a 0.16 BAC.He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 and render 25 hours of community service.Daniel R. Russo, 36, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on Jan. 12, 2015, along South First Street after being involved in a crash. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension, render 25 hours of community service and make restitution to the Lehighton Water Authority for $366.01 for damage to a fire hydrant.He will begin the jail term at 7:30 a.m. June 3 and serve two days and then June 10 at 7:30 a.m. and serve one day.Thomas Scott Scherer, 36, of Palmerton, was arrested on Oct. 28, 2016, along State Road in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed a 0.13 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so he can receive a drug and alcohol evaluation.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000, a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole and follow any recommendations of their drug and alcohol evaluation.