A member of a drug and burglary ring that operated in a multi-county area entered a guilty plea in Carbon County court on Thursday and is facing a prison term at the time of sentencing.

He was one of 14 persons with pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.Twelve arrestedJohn Joseph Aleksiejczyk, 41, of Nesquehoning, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, a felony.Aleksiejczyk was one of 12 arrested by agents of the state Attorney Generanl's office and the county drug task force in April of last year. The 12 were part of a ring in which they burglarized properties and took various items. The items were then sold at a pawn shop for cash. The cash was used to purchase drugs for sale. The pawn shop owner was also arrested.At the time of his arrest District Attorney Gary F. Dobias called the operation the 12 were involved in "Operation Golden Dope." The break-ins and drug sales occurred in Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties.Assistant District Attorney Michael Greek called Aleksiejczyk a sub-level dealer.Nanovic told Aleksiejczyk that in the standard range of state sentencing guidelines he faces a minimum person term of between 15 and 21 months.Nanovic accepted the plea but deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation (PSI).Other pleasOther defendants in pending criminal cases who entered guilty pleas included:Leslie K. Potak, 34, of Northampton, pleaded to operating a vehicle without a ignition interlock device. She was arrested on July 10, 2009, along School St., in Jim Thorpe, after a vehicle stop.Potak has two prior driving under the influence (DUI) convictions. Under state law she was required to have the interlock device installed in her vehicle for a year after the second conviction. A person must blow into a tub in the device, if alcohol is present, their vehicle won't start. The vehicle won't start until a person blows into the device.Nanovic deferred sentencing so that Potak could apply for placement in the Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP). She faces a mandatory 90 days in jail on the charge plus a fine and license suspension.Lawrence Schaffer, 64, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on June 13, 2010, along Mahoning Mountain Road in Mahoning Township after crashing his vehicle into a wooded area. Given a test, the result was .17BAC.Althrough he has two prior DUI convictions, both are over 10 years ago making the instant charge a first offense for sentencing purposes.Nanovic placed him on probation for six months and ordered he pay a fine of $300, get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use and render three hours of community service per month while on probation.Joshua Peter Weckerle, 21, of Bethlehem, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on April 8, 2009, along SR248 in Palmerton. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance in his system.Nanovic sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and must get a D&A evaluation. He was given credit for 23 days spent in a inpatient rehabilitation program and was paroled.Robert Joseph Stewart, 57, Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on June 1, 2007, along SR903 in Penn Forest Township. Given a test, the result was .23BAC.Steward was placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program for first time offenders but was revoked for failure to complete all the conditions.Nanovic sentenced him to time served (72 days) to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for a year, and make restitution of $97.50. He was paroled but will not be released until he can establish a residence.David Liverpool, 23, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested by Lehighton police for an incident on Aug. 14, 2010.Nanovic imposed a fine of $250.Tarah Marie Strausberger, 27, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on Oct. 1, 2010, at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township for taking items valued at $32.30. It is her second conviction. Nanovic warned her a third conviction would make it a felony and probable jail term.Nanovic placed her on probation for a year and ordered she get a D&A evaluation with zero tolerance imposed on D&A use.Jessie J. Woodward, 29, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count each of theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on April 17, 2010, by Jim Thorpe police for taking items from the home of his mother, Kristine Woodard. When arrested at the residence police found syringes on him used for drug use. He admitted to a prior heroin addiction but said he has stopped using all drugs.Nanovic placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a D&A evaluaton and zero tolerance on D&A use. He was also fined $100 on the possession count.Gregory Allen Wentz, 32, of Andreas, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. He was arrested for an incident on May 19, 2010, along Susquehanna St., in Jim Thorpe.Sheriff Dupty David Midas attempted to serve a bench warrant for Wentz's arrest for a domestic relations violation. Wentz fled on foot across Susquehanna St. and into the Lehigh River. He then entered a wooded area across the river. About 15 police officers searched the woods for Wentz and eventually found him.When taken into custody Wentz reportedly said to officers, "I should get a 'that away' from you."Nanovic said it was obvious Wentz had little respect for the law.Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in jail and ordered he have no alcohol in his possession during the entire length of the sentence. He begins the jail term at noon on Jan. 25.Katelynn Rose Bear, 22, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of DUI. She was arrested on Sept. 25, 2010, along the Stanley Hoffman Blvd., in Lehighton, during a sobriety checkpoint operation. Given a test, the result was .10BAC.Nanovic placed her on probation for six months as a first time offender and ordered her to pay a fine of $300 and get a D&A evaluation.Floyd Warren Michael, 25, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 2, 2010, by state police along SR443 in Lehighton following a vehicle stop.Nanvoic placed him on probation for a year and ordered he pay a fine of $500, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use and render three hours of community service per month while on probation.Jeffrey Noyes, 19, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 13, 2010, at his home after agents of the state Attorney General's office and county drug task force members served a search warrant. Found in the home was marijuana in various quantitiies and drug paraphernalia.Nanovic sentenced him to time served (eight days) to one year in jail and paroled him. He was ordered to get a D&A evaluation, supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee, and zero tolerance imposed on D&A use. On the paraphernalia charge is was fined $500.Jason Christopher Malick, 32, of Orefield, pleaded to one count of DUI, a first offense. He was arrested on Sept. 23, 2010, along the Stanley Hoffman Blvd., Lehighton, during a sobriety checkpoint operation. Given a test, the result was .16BAC.Nanovic placed him on probation for six months and ordered he pay a fine of $300 and get a D&A evaluation.Lori A. Spezialetti, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of forgery-altering a prescription. She was arrested on Oct. 12, 2010, by Lehighton police after she presented a prescription at the Rite Aid store. The prescription was originally written for 12 pills of a medication and she changed it to 72. The pharmacist noticed the change and notified police.Nanovic deferred sentencing and ordered a PSI.Each defendant that was sentenced must also pay court costs and a $50 per month supervision fee.