Two defendants in pending drug cases entered guilty pleas Thursday morning in Carbon County court, while 10 others also entered pleas in pending criminal cases. Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas.

Sold to CIPaul E. Davidson Jr., 39, of Saylorsburg, pleaded to one count of delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine. He was arrested by agents of the state Attorney General's office after he sold the drug to a confidential informant (CI). The sale occurred on April 3 in the area of 32 Blakeslee Blvd., in Lehighton. He was arrested immediately after the sale.Serfass sentenced Davidson to serve nine to one day less 24 months in the county prison followed by two years of probation. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation (D&A) and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee, and render 100 hours of community service when released on parole. He was given credit for 136 days spent in jail to date on the charge. He was also granted work release privileges provided he meets the qualifications set by the prison.Jennifer L. Rudelitch, 36, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of delivery of a controlled substance-heroin. She was arrested by agents of the AG office for making sales to an undercover agent on two occasions in the Lehigheton area. Her plea was to one of the sales.Serfass sentenced her to time served (206 days) to one day less 24 months in the county prison and ordered her to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee, and render 100 hours of community service.Other pleasOther defendants who entered pleas included:Matthew E. Markley, 23, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty in two pending cases to driving under the influence (DUI) in each. In the first case he was arrested by state police at Lehighton on April 8, 2011, and the second on Sept. 20, 2011. Given a test which revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was also charged with drug counts, which were dropped in a plea bargain.On both cases Serfass sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, and one year license suspension. The terms run consecutive to each other.He was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render a total of 50 hours community service. He was given credit for a total of 29 days spent in jail on the charges and was paroled.Michael Maguschak, 24, of Beaver Meadows, pleaded to one count of theft. He was arrested by Beaver Meadows police for an incident on Nov. 21, 2011, involving the theft of a handgun.He told Serfass he stole the gun and sold it to a drug dealer in Hazleton to get drugs. Police were able to recover the gun.Serfass sentenced Maguschak to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison followed by one year probation. He was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation, and render 100 hours of community service. He was given credit for 143 days spent to date in jail on the charge.Brian J. Steigerwalt, 34, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property. Jim Thorpe police charged him with taking rolled coins from Kuhn Transportation on or about May 8 while he was an employee. A theft charge was dropped in a plea bargain.Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service. It was noted restitution of $430 has already been made by Steigerwalt to the victim.Jason M. Brunda, 30, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on July 29, 2009, along Railroad St., in Nesquehoning. Given a test, the result was .09BAC.He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300, get a D&A evaluation, and render 25 hours of community service.Jason Todd Laviolette, 36, of Lehighton, pleaded to on count of DUI. He was arrested on March 16 along Park St., in Weissport, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .24BAC.He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300, get a D&A evaluation, and render 25 hours of community service.Corey Regan Schlier, 42, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on March 31 along SR209 in Jim Thorpe. Given a test, the result was .30BAC.Serfass placed him on probation for six months and ordered he pay a fine of $300, get a D&A evaluation, and render 25 hours of community service.Jeffrey Lee Panovec, 64, of Kunkletown R.5, pleaded in two pending cases.In the first case he pleaded to one count of recklessly endangering another person for an incident on Nov. 22, 2011, in Franklin Township at the Boat Yard bar along Canal St. He was charged with threatening Jeffrey and Lisa Hostpence with a gun and hitting the male with the gun. A threats count and the deadly weapon enhancement provision were both dropped in a plea bargain. It was noted the victims did not want Panovec to serve any jail time since they were friends of his.He also pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Jan. 21 along Penn Forest St., in Towamensing Township, by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .11BAC.On the reckless count Serfass placed him on probation for 24 months and ordered he get both D&A and mental health evaluations, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 100 hours of community service.On the DUI charge he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300, with the other conditions imposed on the reckless endangering count. The terms run consecutively.Derrick John Chris Smith, 41, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-heroin. He was arrested by agents of the AG office on Aug. 31, 2011, for making two sales to a CI at locations in the Lehighton area.Serfass sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in the county prison, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 50 hours of community service.He will begin the jail term on Aug. 31 at 9 a.m. and was granted immediate work release privileges.Jose Rafael Garcia, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded to one count of theft of leased property. He was charged by state police at Fern Ridge with taking two paintball guns belonging to Skirmish USA, in Penn Forest Township, on Oct. 22, 2011.Serfass placed him on probation for 24 months and ordered he make restitution of $883.50 to the victim, and render 100 hours of community service.Jennifer Hughart, 45, of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count of welfare fraud. The state Department of Welfare charged that she received welfare public assistance funds when she was not entitled to them.Serfass placed her on probation for 24 months and ordered her to make restitution to the state of $1,650, and render 100 hours of community service.Each defendant must also pay court costs, which average close to $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.