A Carbon County man admitted bilking a neighbor out of funds while another county resident pleaded to stealing guns from his brother-in-law, a police chief. The pleas were among eight accepted by Carbon County Senior Judge Richard W. Webb on Monday.

Diamond buysJoseph M. Ashley, 53, of Indian Mountain Lakes, Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, a felony three.He admitted gaining the trust of a female neighbor and bilking her out of $15,000. He told the woman he was involved in investments and could purchase diamonds at a reduced cost which would be a sound investment for her.He received the money from the woman but never invested the funds in diamonds, or anything else.Webb accepted the plea but deferred sentencing noting that Ashley has a prior criminal record. The plea agreement calls for a prison term of 11 1/2 to 23 months in the county prison plus restitution. Webb ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation (PSI).Ashley has been held in the county jail since his arrest in April by agents of the state Attorney General's office.Gun theftsFuller Ashton Jr., 35, of Lehighton pleaded guilty to one count of criminal trespass, as a felony three.He admitted stealing three guns and jewelry valued at over $2,000 from the home of Joseph Schatz on or about Dec. 1, 2009. The Lehighton police report indicated Ashton was Schatz's brother-in-law. Schatz is police chief of Jim Thorpe.Two of the guns were recovered.Webb deferred sentencing and ordered a PSI.Other pleasOther defendants in pending cases to enter pleas included:Carl Smith, 23, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to one count if simple assault. He was charged by state police at Lehighton for an incident on Jan. 13, 2007, at the Youth Services Camp Adams in Penn Forest Township.Smith, a resident placed in the camp by a court, assaulted another resident of the camp.Webb placed him on probation for a year.Pierre Germain, 55, of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property, as a felony tree.State police at Fern Ridge charged that Germain ordered various building supplies from Shelly Lumber. The supplies were delivered but Germain never paid for the supplies, which were valued at over $10,000.Germain failed to show for a prior court proceeding and was eventually picked up on a bench warrant and is currently in the county prison.Webb deferred sentencing ordering a PSI.Kent Neiman, 23, of Pottstown, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence (DUI). He was arrested on June 19 in the area of Platz's Resturant in Franklin Township by township police. Given a test, the result was .09BAC.Neiman was picked up on a bench warrant for failure to appear and was located in the Berks County prison. After being released on the Berks charges Neiman was held on the Carbon County detainer and spent eight days in the prison until Carbon authorities picked him up.Webb sentenced him to serve five days to six months in jail, a fine of $300, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render three hours of communty service per month while on parole, and his license was suspended for a year.Webb gave him credit for the eight days held in Berks on the Carbon warrant and released him on parole.Mark Allen Solt, 41, of Parryville, pleaded to one count of retail theft. He was arrested on Feb. 6 by Mahoning Township police for an incident at the Walmart store. He attempted to remove a snowblower and DVD movies from the store, with a value of $676.24. He was stopped outside by store security and the items were recovered.Webb placed him on probation for a year.Philip Louis Hurst, 63, of Bath, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on June 12 along SR248 in Lower Towamensing Townsihp by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .21BAC.Webb sentenced him to serve 48 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $500, get a D&A evaluation and his license suspended for a year. On summary motor vehicle code violation he was fined $25 and costs.He began the jail term at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10.All defendants sentenced must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.