A Tamaqua man was one of three defendants who had their freedom taken away by Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin after a hearing in Schuylkill County court for violating terms of their probation and now have to serve time in the county prison.

Christopher Shea, 45, formerly of 262 W. Cottage Avenue, who on May 23, 2007 was placed on probation on charges of criminal attempt to deliver a controlled substance to a confidential informant (CI), was ruled to have violated his probation because of failure to make timely reports to his probation officer.Shea told a hardship story, of losing his job in Reading and living in a friend's garage in Reading and was depressed because of family problems. Assistant District Attorney Michael O'Pake told the court that failure to report timely to a probation officer is a very serious offense because the probation officer keeps tract if the defendant is carrying out his sentence as to rehabilitation and making restitutions.O'Pake recommended a jail sentence of at least six months. Dolbin took into consideration Shea's problems and reduced the sentence to three to 23 months.Nicholas Joseph Pinnelle, 30, Pottsville, had his probation revoked because he failed to make timely reports to his probation officer, failed to notify of a change of address and was found with illegal drugs which were violations of his probation.Pinnelle was sentenced to serve six to 12 months in the county prison on the charge of possession of a controlled substance with credit for serving 38 days and must serve an additional 12 months on probation for possession of drug paraphernalia.Cody Noel Challenger, 20, Williamstown, had his probation revoked because he was found with possession of illegal drugs and refused to comply with a court order to undergo treatment for a heroin and marijuana addiction.He asked to be placed under supervision in Dauphin County and promised to seek help. Dolbin told him "you can't get drugs in prison" and remanded him to the county prison to serve out his term and his 351 days of liberty were taken away and added to his maximum time to serve. His new date for release was placed at April 5, 2013. He had pleaded guilty to drug charges and received a probation sentence.