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Drug dealer gets prison term

A Carbon County man, who admitted to drug dealing, was given a county prison term on Monday after pleading guilty.

William Dougherty, 28, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.Dougherty was arrested by undercover state troopers from the Hazleton barracks for selling heroin in two separate locations in the county.Troopers used a confidential informant (CI) to purchase heroin off Dougherty on Oct. 8, 2013, in a parking lot near Bridge Street in Lehighton. The second sale was made on Oct. 21, 2013, along Second Street in Jim Thorpe. A third sale was also made but the charges incident to that were dropped in a plea bargain.Dougherty claimed he had only used heroin for about six months before the sales and was only involved in the sales because he knew the CI.Nanovic accepted the pleas and sentenced Dougherty to serve six to one day less 24 months in prison on each charge with the terms running concurrently. The prison term will be followed by one year of probation.He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and supply an DNA sample.He was given credit for 55 days already spent in jail on the charges.Paraphernalia chargeBenjamin R. Kerns, 28, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on Dec. 22, 2012, by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop at Forest Inn and Fireline roads, in Lower Towamensing Township.Kerns was a passenger in the vehicle and found to possess marijuana. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for driving under the influence.Nanovic placed Kerns on probation for six months and ordered him to pay a fine of $500 and get a D&A evaluation.Both defendants must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.