Three area residents were among 20 defendants who entered guilty pleas to criminal charges in Schuylkill County court and were sentenced by Judge Charles M. Miller as follows:

Christopher Lee Crook, 23, of 14 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, theft of leased property, a laptop computer and playstation from Rent-A-Center, Hometown, Rush Township, placed on probation 12 months, pay $50 to Criminal Justice Enhancement Account (CJEA) fund, perform 20 hours of community service, and make restitution of $2,222.37 to the store. Crook Was cited by Patrolman Corey Herring.John William Welfel Jr. 20, of 240 E. Broad St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua, on a charge of criminal conspiracy in assisting an accomplice in a robbery of a cell phone from a pedestrian, Gabriel Bumburger, in the area of the Train Station last Dec. 11, was given credit for spending 133 days in the county prison and was placed on parole for 23 months, pay $50 to CJEA fund, and make restitution jointly or by himself of $25 to the victim. Weifel was cited by Tamaqua Patrolman Anthony Stanell.Michael Paul Wensel, 32, of 591 Stony Lane, New Ringgold, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia when stopped by Trooper Alyssa J. Becker on Lake Front Drive, Deer Lake, on June 29, 2011, was given credit for spending 72 days in the county prison and was placed on parole for 12 months, pay $100 to Substance Abuse Education (SAE) fund, and $50 to CJEA fund.Russell Franklin Mauger, 50, of Zion Grove R1, criminal trespass on property of Katherine Mercer, 851 Main Boulevard, Sheppton, East Union Township, placed on probation 12 months, pay $50 to CJEA fund, and make restitution of $691.77 to victim. Mauger was cited by Trooper Edward Lizewski.Donald Eugene Funk, 23, an inmate in Columbia County prison in Bloomsburg, on a charge of theft of a truck belonging to Blaschak Coal Company, SR54, Mahanoy Township; and theft of equipment from cars parked on lot of Vito Rinaldi car agency, Gold Star Highway, Shenadoah, was sentenced to serve four to 23 months in the county prison and when released to serve an additional 12 months on probation. Funk was cited by Trooper Melissa Kyper.Pedro Alvarez, 22, Queens, N.Y., possession of a controlled substance (CS) when stopped in 300 block on W. Blair St., McAdoo, by Patrolman Robert Minnick was given credit for serving 139 days in the county prison and was placed on parole for 12 months, pay $100 to SAE fund, and $50 to CJEA fund. On a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia must serve an additional 12 months on probation and on the charge of driving while his operating privileges were suspended was fined $200 plus $50 costs.David Mark Berk,19, Auburn, two counts of arson to a garage and vacant building in Auburn, sentenced to serve two to four years in a state correctional facilty with credit for serving 60 days in the county prison, pay $50 to CJEA fund, make restitution of $14,874 to Douglas Naftzinger, 436 Market St.; $11,481 to Harold Miller; and $5,571.99 to Nationwide Insurance Company. Berk was cited by Trooper John F. Burns.Jordan Michael Cavalcanti, 23, Robesonia, Berks County, on a charge of possession of a CS and drug paraphernalia when stopped in Schuylkill Haven by Patrolman Gregory S. Meisner was given credit for serving four days in the county prison and placed on parole for 12 months, pay $100 to SAE fund, and $50 to CJEA fund.Eric Scott Cobb, 44, Reading, simple assault, serve nine to 23 months in the county prison with credit of serving 71 days, and pay $50 to CJEA. Cobb was cited by Minersville Patrolman Jeffrey R. Bowers.Patricia Bessie Hook, Pottsville, two counts of retail theft, sentenced to serve 19 to 32 months in the state correctional facility, pay $50 to CJEA fund, and make restitution of $185.87 to Walmart Store, Saint Clair, and $264.12 to Rite Aide Pharmacy. Hook was cited by Saint Clair police.Tahisha Shade Hook, 25, Minersville, retail theft, sentenced to serve three to 23 months in the county prison, pay $50 to CJEA fund, and make restitution of $185.87 to Walmart Store in Saint Clair.Andrew Lane Schmidt, Shenandoah, defiant trespass on private property, sentenced to serve six to 23 months in the county prison with credit for serving 211 days. On a charge of theft of property belonging to Jackie Sotomayor, Shenandoah, must serve an additional 12 months on probation. He also must pay $50 to CJEA fund. On summary charges of criminal mischief and harassment was fined $50 plus $100 costs. Schmidt was cited by Shenandoah Chief Joseph Hall.Jacob Allen Schopfer, 19, Mahanoy City, assaulting his brother, Donald Schopfer, given credit for serving 122 days in the county prison and placed on parole for 23 months, and pay $50 to CJEA. On a charge of harassment was fined $25 plus $50 costs. Schopfer was cited by Mahanoy City Lt. John Kaczmarczyk.Michael Jared Schultz, 24, Frackville, criminal mischief to parked vehicles in 200 block of North Second Street in Frackville, was given credit for serving 69 days in the county prison and was placed on parole for 12 months, and pay $50 to CJEA fund. He has to make restitution of $746.82 to Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency; $296.82 to Phillp Hennessy; $100 to Louis Onorofsky; $182 to Onorofsky's insurance company; $2,790.78 to Steve Tynio; $162 to James Stank Jr.; $500 to Dwayne Dean; $500 to John Kegolis; $389.87 to Nationwide Insurance Company; $1,095.16 to Donegal Insurance Company for Elizabeth Reese; and $292.61 to Susan Hudock. Schultz was cited by Patrolman Christopher HandRyan Michael Schultz, 24, Frackville, on nine charges of criminal mischief to vehicles parked in 200 block on North Second Street, Frackville; four counts of theft from vehicles, and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit theft, was given credit for serving 55 days in the county prison and placed on probation for 24 months, and pay $100 to CJEA fund. Schultz was cited by Patrolman Hand.Andre Donald Soto, 32, Pottsville, on two counts of simple assault on Shannon Newell, girlfriend and Galen Vandermeer, a witness assaulted in a magisterial district office, was sentenced to serve six to 23 months in the county prison and received credit for serving 76 days, followed by 12 months on probation which begins at the expiration of the first sentence, fined $100, and pay $100 to CJEA fund. Soto was cited by Pottsville Cpl. Francis Lynagh.Jill Marie Thomas, 41, Pottsville, on one count each of burglary and criminal conspiracy, six counts of credit card fraud and eight counts of theft by deception, was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in a state correctional facility, pay $150 to CJEA fund, and make restitution of $8,572.63 to Robert Burns; $870.80 to Justin Eisenhart; and $1,995.65 to Jeffrey Thomas for use of their credit cards. Thomas was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Kirk A. Becker.Andrew Lee Wyre, 26, Shenandoah, on two counts of burglary of copper from properties at 211 W. Atlantic St., and 138 N. White St., Shenandoah, sentenced to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution and received credit for serving 105 days in the county prison. He was cited by Shenandoah police.Angela L. Pleva, 35, Shenandoah, three counts of credit card fraud, sentenced to serve three to 23 months in the county prison with credit for having served 86 days. On a charge of impersonating a public servant serve an additional 12 months on probation and on a six additional counts of credit card fraud serving 12 months probation. Pleva also make restitution of $370 to Walter Blewis, Shenandoah, and pay $150 to CJEA fund. Pleva was cited by West Mahanoy Township Patrolman Raymond Tonkinson, III.Matthew Craig Livingston, 27, Pottsville, on two counts of corruption of minors and four counts of selling or furnishing alcohol beverages to minors was sentenced to serve three to 12 months in the county prison. On a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) to serve 72 hours to six months but this sentence runs concurrent but he must pay a fine of $1,000, pay $50 to Catastrophe fund, $60 to Schuylkill Medical Center, attend alcohol highway safe driving school, receive outpatient counseling, undergo random screening and his driver's license is suspended 12 months. On a charge of driving while his operating privileges were suspended was fined $200 plus $50 costs. On the DUI charge he was cited by Pottsville Patrolman Joseph R Welsh.Each defendant must also pay a $50 per monthh supervision fee while on probation or parole.