A Tamaqua man elected to waive his right to preliminary hearings in three separate drug related cases scheduled to be heard before District Judge Stephen Bayer, Tamaqua, last week.

Alden Richard Whateley, 45, of 345 E. Union St., appeared before Bayer on charges related to alleged drug deals made on March 16, 18 and 30 of this year. The charges were filed by Tamaqua police Sgt. Richard Weaver and included multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance (CS) with intent to deliver and possession. All charges were waived to be heard in Schuylkill County court.Whateley was returned to the county prison, Pottsville, after being unable to post the required $75,000 straight bail.Other defendants who chose to waive their preliminary hearings before Bayer included:Ian Patrick McGregor, 25, of 110 E. High St., Coaldale, waived a hearing on charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, DUI of a controlled substance, harassment, failure to keep right, failure to yield, passing on the right and careless driving. He was charged by Coaldale Patrolman Charles Blesse following a March 2 incident.McGregor was released on 10 percent of $35,000 bail.Brian R. Kehl, 27, of 117 Walnut St., Tuscarora, will face trial on charges of retail theft, filed by Tamaqua Cpl. Dwayne Hacker. The charges stem from a Nov. 06, 2009, incident.Kehl was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.Jason W. Miller, 31, of 34 N. Greenwood St., Tamaqua, was charged with two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and a misdemeanor count of possession of a CS. The charges stem from a March 30 incident and were filed by Tamaqua Patrolman Anthony Stanell.Miller was remanded to the county prison in lieu of $50,000 straight bail.Michael John Conches, 37, of 125 East Ave., Mount Carmel, was charged with DUI by Tamaqua Patrolman Thomas Rodgers. The charges stem from a Feb. 1 incident.Conches was released on his own recognizance.Ralph Richardson, 22, of 153 Municipal Rd., New Ringgold, was charged with DUI of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, operating a vehicle without the required insurance, driving while under suspension and careless driving. The charges were filed by West Penn Patrolman Jeremy Talanca following a Feb. 8 incident.Richardson was released on his own recognizance.Erick E. Gwaltney, 32, of 57 Berwick St., Beaver Meadows, will face trial on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, hit and run, careless driving and driving without a license following a March 23 incident. The charges were filed by Rush Township Patrolman Jonathan McHugh.Gwaltney was released after posting 10 percent of the required $1,000 bail.Jessica Ann Linkhorst, 29, of 113 E. Center St., Mahanoy City, was charged with DUI of a controlled substance, failure to keep right, careless driving and providing false information to law enforcement by Kline Township Patrolman John Petrilla. The charges stem from a Sept. 25, 2009, incident.She was released on her own recognizance.Timothy C. Ewer, 50, of 560 North St., Doylestown, will face trial on charges of DUI, harassment, failure to keep right, disorderly conduct, driving with a suspended license, passing on the right and careless driving. The charges were filed by Kline Township Patrolman James Patterson following a Feb. 10 incident.Ewer was inarcerated in the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.Russell L. Bahrey III, 33, of 168 Stony Hill Rd., Weatherly, was charged with criminal mischief and disorderly condcut following an April 26, 2009, incident. The charges were filed by state police Trooper Mario Pompei.Bahrey was unable to post the required $10,000 straight bail.Two defendants were unable to convince the judge to dismiss the charges filed against them after going through with their preliminary hearings.James J. Bennek, 36, of 180 Claremont St., Tamaqua, was bound over for court trial on charges of DUI, disregarding a traffic lane and making an improper turn. The charges were filed by Coaldale Patrolman Charles Blesse following a Dec. 8, 2009, incident.Bennek was released on his own recognizance.Robert Cromer, 34, of 1242 N. River St., Plains, was bound over on charges of conspiracy to commit retrail theft, receiving stolen property, defiant trespass and driving with a suspended/revoked license. The charges stem from a Dec. 19, 2009, incident and were filed by Rush Township Patrolman Duane Frederick.Cromer was able to post 10 percent of the imposed $10,000 bail.