A Lehighton man was sentenced to a state prison term this week in Carbon County court on a charge of conspiracy to committ robbery charge. He was one of nine defendants in pending cases to enter guilty pleas before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Lehighton incidentShawn Michael Neff, 27, was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in prison on the charge. Neff was arrested by Lehighton police for an incident on Oct. 23, 2011, near East Alley with the victim listed as Damian Smith. He previously pleaded to the count.Neff was the second suspect charged in the incident. Dietrik Ryan Hosier, 21, of Weissport, previously pleaded guilty to his part in the robbery and was sentenced to serve three to 23 months in the county prison.Neff, because of prior criminal convictions, got a longer term. He as also sentenced to serve six to 24 months on a simple assault charge which runs consecutive to the robbery count.Neff pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen proeprty for an incident on May 3, 2010, in which Denise Sponheimer is the listed victim. He was placed on state probation for a year on that count, concurrent to the other charges.Serfass also ordered Neff to supply a DNA sample and make restitution of $250. He was given credit for 70 days spent in jail on the receiving count; and 85 days credit on the robbery charge.Other pleasOther defendants entering pleas included:Scott Heffelfinger, 24, of Lehighton, entered pleas in five pending cases. He pleaded to three counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.On the receiving charges he was arrested for incidents on Aug. 6, 2011, in Lehighton; Aug. 15, 2011, in Jim Thorpe; and Aug. 9, 2011, in Lehighton. The unauthorized use charges stem from incidents on Aug. 9 and 16, in Palmerton and Jim Thorpe, respectively.Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation (PSI).Daniel Bernard Engroff, 34, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of simple assault. He was arrested on Nov. 21, 2011, by state police at Fern Ridge for an incident in Penn Forest Township and Crystal Lynn Treible the listed victim.Serfass placed him on probation for two years and ordered he render three hours of community service per month while on probation. He was given credit for one day spent in jail on the charge.Norma Jean Fritz, 44, of Lake Harmony, pleaded to one count of criminal mischief-tampering with property. She was arrested on Oct. 30, 2011, by Kidder Township police for an incident involving Frances Barella the listed victim.Serfass placed her on probation for six months and ordered she make restitution of $501 and have no contact with the victim.Chad Harrison Hartsell, 30, an inmate at the county prsion, pleaded to one count of criminal attempt-possession of a controlled substance.Hartsell was one of 11 arrested by agents of the state Attorney General's office involved smuggling drugs into the county prison called "Operation Postage Stamp" by prosecutors.Prosecutors said the drug Suboxone, which is used to treat heroin addiction, and is commonly produced in pill form, but is now manufactured in thin, film-like strips, was smuggled in to the prison by putting the strips under the stamps on the mail to the inmates.Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered a PSI.Alyssa Marie Keiper, 21, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of recklessly endangering another person, and summary counts of careless driving and driving on the right side of the road. She was arrested on April 2, 2011, in Frankling Township with Officer Frank Lorah of the township police the listed victim.Serfass place her on probation for two years and ordered she make restitution of $750 to the township, and render three hours of community service per month while on probation. On the two summary counts she was fined a total of $50 and costs.Dawn Louise Markley, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of driving under the influence (DUI) and possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on July 2, 2011, at White and Forge sts., in Weissport.On the DUI count she was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, ordered to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, pay a fine of $500, and license suspended for a year. On the possession count she was placed on probation for 30 days consecutive to the DUI charge.She will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Feb. 3.Robert Alan Middleton, 39, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Sept. 5, 2011, along SR902 in Mahoning Township. Given a test, the result was .22BAC.Serfass sentenced him to serve 48 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $500, one year license suspension, and get a D&A evaluation. He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Feb. 5.Anthony Tatasciore, 28, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 23, 2011, in the 200 block of N. First St., Lehighton, following a vehicle stop.Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a D&A evaluation and render three hours of community service per month while on probation.ARD placementsThe following were placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program for first time offenders by Serfass.If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record is wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete it or are revoked from it, the Commonwealath reserves the right to prosecute them on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.Placed were the following:William H. Douthart IV, 26, of Lehighton, was placed for a year on a DUI count. He was arrested on Sept. 26, 2011, along North St., in Lehighton. Given a test, the result was .12BAC.He was ordered to pay $400 for the pogram, get a D&A evaluation, and license suspended for 30 days.Thomas Hosler, 41, of Lehighton, was placed in the program for two years on a charge of firearms not to be carried without a license. He was arrested on Sept. 22, 2011, in the parking lot of the Walmart store in Mahoning Township.Serfass ordered he pay $500 for the program, supply a DNA sample, and render 50 hours of community service.Claire Elizabeth Krage, 25, of Scotrun, Monroe County, was placed for a year on a DUI count. She was arrested on Oct. 6, 2011, along SR209 in Franklin Township. Given a test, the result was .19BAC.Serfass ordered she pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation, and license suspended for 60 days.Steven M. Roberti Jr., 26, of Jim Thorpe, was placed for a year on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Sept. 23, 2011, along Laurel St., in Jim Thorpe. Given a test, the result was .21BAC.Serfass ordered he pay $450 for the program, get a D&A evaluation, license suspended for 60 days, and render 21 hours of community service.Drew Alan Rose, 30, of Bethlehem, was placed for a year on a retail theft charge. He was arrested on Sept. 29, 2011, at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township for allegedly taking $376.61 worth of merchandise.He was ordered to pay $350 for the program, and render 15 hours of community service.Each defendant sentenced, or placed in the ARD program, must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.