Two Carbon County residents admitted to drug-dealing charges on Monday in the county court with one sentenced to a state prison while the other is awaiting sentencing and is facing a prison term.

Both entered guilty pleas before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Heroin found

Steven Richard Swartz

, 29, of Palmerton, was sentenced to serve 12 to 36 months in a state correctional institution after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, heroin. He also pleaded to two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia in separate incidents.

He was charged with the delivery count for an incident on July 6, 2017, in Palmerton. Borough police responded to a report of a suspicious person along Avenue A. Swartz was found and he had in his possession packets of heroin in an amount ready for sale.

The two other drug counts incident occurred on July 5, 2017, also along Avenue A; and May 20, 2017, along Lehigh Avenue.

Swartz told the court he had entered the inpatient Salvation Army drug-rehabilitation program but lasted only 21 days before leaving.

Defense Attorney Eric J. Filer, of the public defender’s office, said his client’s criminal activity was tied to a drug addiction problem.

On the two paraphernalia charges Nanovic placed him on probation for a year on each, running concurrent to each other and the delivery count.

He must also get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample and pay court costs of about $1,000.

Swartz, an inmate in the county prison, was given credit for 221 days already served.

Sold to CI

Melissa Suzanne Rahn

, 29, of Parryville, pleaded to one count of delivery of a controlled substance, heroin.

She was arrested on Jan. 23, 2017, after she sold 10 packets of heroin to a confidential informant working for the state Attorney General’s office and the county drug task force.

Nanovic told her that state sentencing guidelines indicate she is facing a minimum prison term of anywhere between three and 12 months to a maximum of 15 years.

Sentencing was deferred so she could see if she is eligible for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program, house arrest.