Preliminary hearings before District Judge Stephen Bayer, Tamaqua, last week included two defendants being charged with offenses in multiple incidents.

Rolando Martin Horsford, 39, of 305 E. Abbott St., Lansford, was scheduled for hearings on drug related charges from two incidents.He waived his right to those hearings and will now be scheduled for trial in the next session of criminal court at the Schuylkill County courthouse, Pottsville. The arresting officer on both occasions, Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, 2009, was Tamaqua Patrolman Anthony Stanell. In both cases, Horsford was charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance. In the August incident he also faces charges of driving with a suspended/revoked license, while a felony count of criminal use of a communications facility was added to the Sept. 3 charges.Bail for both incidents was set at $15,000 straight cash bond. Horsford was able to post the required bond.Christopher William Weston, 38, of 221 W. High St., Coaldale, was in court on unrelated charges of burglary and driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. The arresting officer in both cases was Tamaqua Patrolman Matthew Bynon.Weston was cited for DUI, accidents involving personal injury, accidents involving damage to attended vehicles, careless driving and driving with a suspended/revoked license following an Oct. 29 incident. On Nov. 19 Bynon charged Weston with conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit criminal trespass and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking. The first two charges were withdrawn and Weston waived the third charge to court.Bail for the DUI charge was ROR (released on his own recognizance), while bail for the conspiracy charge was $25,000 unsecured.Michael C. Linkchorst, 39, of Shenandoah, failed to appear for his preliminary hearing on charges of conspiracy to commit retail theft and harassment. The charges were filed by Rush Township Patrolman Brian Thompson following a Nov. 30 incident. Linkchorst was bound over for trial on both charges.Helene C. Grutza, 34, of 39 Vulcan Rd., Barnesville, waived a hearing on charges of retail theft and defiant trespass following a Dec. 23 incident. The charges were filed by Rush Township Patrolman Jonathan McHugh.Grutza was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.Ryan Joseph Kolesar, 24, of 123 W. Blaine St., McAdoo, agreed to plead guilty to two summary charges of disorderly conduct following an Oct. 17 incident. A charge of attempted theft from a motor vehicle was withdrawn by arresting State Trooper Scott Grochowski.David John Swedo, 47, of 118 Tamaqua St., Audenreid, a co-defendant of Kolesar's, agreed to the same charges.Robin Santly, 46, of 100 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, had DUI related charges dismissed. The charges were filed by Coaldale Patrolman Peter Sandor following an Oct. 30 incident.