Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika has a busy Tuesday in court, hearing guilty pleas from 24 defendants in pending cases.

The lengthy court session lasted until late in the afternoon as he accepted pleas from the following:James M. Buchanan, 37, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of driving under the influence (DUI) and driving under suspension-DUI related. It was the fourth conviction for DUI for Buchanan.Buchanan was arrested on March 18 by state police at Lehighton along 57 Road in Towamensing Township. Given a test, the result was .21BAC.On the DUI count Matika sentenced Buchanan to seve 30 days to six months in prison, and on the driving under suspension count to serve 90 days in jail, with the terms running consecutively. He will lose his license for a year on the DUI count and another year for the suspension charge.He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service when released on parole. On the DUI count he was fined $750 and on the suspension charge $1,000.He began the jail term immeidately.Samantha Lynn Maloney, 28, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of DUI, her third overall conviction and second for sentencing purposes.She was arrested on Aug. 14, 2009, by state police at Hazleton along SR93 in Banks Township. Given a test, the result was .15BAC.Matika sentenced her to serve five days to six months in jail, a fine of $300, one year license suspension, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service. She will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Aug. 27.Jeronto J. Bryan, 33, of Hazleton, pleaded to four summary motor vehicle code violations including accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle or property.Matika imposed total fines of $350 plus costs.Natasha Lee Bradley, 28, of Pottsville, pleaded to one count of DUI. She was arrested on June 19, 2010, by state police along SR93 in Penn Forest Township. Given a test, the result was .15BAC. She was previously placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) probation program for first time offenders but was revoked from it.Matika placed her on probation for six months and ordered she get a D&A evaluation, and render 25 hours of community service.Jeremy David Gothard, 32, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on July 13, 2011, along Trachsville Hill Road, in Towamensing Township, by state police at Lehigthon. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for placement in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP).Kelly Heffelfinger, 35, of Walnutport, pleaded to one count of possesson of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on June 9 by Palmerton police at the Pamlerton hospital. She was brought in as a patient and during the admission process hospital staff found marijuana on her person.She was placed on probation for 30 days. She is currently in the Northampton County prison on a probation violation.Amanda C. Reed, 31, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count each of harassment, as a summary offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on June 2 at her residence along W. Ludlow St. for allegedly assaulting her mother, Jamie Reed. When police responded they found drug paraphernalia. An assault count was dropped in a plea agreement.Matika placed her on probation for a year on the drug count and imposed a fine of $300 on the harassment charge. She was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 50 hours of community service.Mark B. Goff, 37, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on March 8 along White Bear Drive in Summit Hill. Given a test, the result was .24BAC.Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for placement in the IPP.Jason D. Ahn, 29, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of flight to avoid apprehension. He was arrested on Feb. 28 by Nesquehoning police for an incident near a foot bridge in the borough. Police responded to the area on another complaint and found Ahn. Police knew there was a domestic court warrant for his arrest and attempted to take him into custody. When told of the warrant he fled but was later apprehended.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service. He is currently in the county prison serving a term on the domestic warrant.John Anthony Provisiero, 19, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of criminal mischief-damage to property. He was arrested on May 1 by Lansford police for damaging a 2004 Oldsmobile of Nancy Napoli, in the 400 block of E. Bertsch St.Matika deferred sentencing to a later date.Heath Chastian Bullard, 41, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Oct. 28, 2011, along SR248 at Bowmanstown by state police at Lehighton after being involved in an accident. He refused a blood test and will lose his license for a year for the refusal.Matika sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one year additional license suspension, get a D&A evaluation, and render 25 hours of community service. He will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7.Lauren Nichole Steinbrunn, 21, of New Ringgold, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Dec. 17, 2011, by Nesquehoning police for an incident at her then residence where police responded to a reported overdose by a female. She had overdosed on heroin, police said.Matika noted that the police report indicated she was near death when found and transported to a area hospital. Matika said he hoped the experience was a real "wake up" call forher about her drug addiction.He placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, and render 50 hours of community service. It was also noted she is currently on probation in Schuylkill County.Carl W. Carlson, 47, of Lehighton, pleaded in two pending cases. He pleaded to one count of possession of an altered inspection sticker for an incident on Nov. 6, 2011, in the 100 block of Delaware Avenue in Palmerton where borough police stopped him for another traffic violation. He also pleaded to one count of receiving stolenn property for an incident on Dec. 29, 2011, where he was charged by Palmerton police for stealing 800 metal rail anchors from the property of the Norfolk-Southern Railroad. All the anchors were recovered by police.He was placed on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, and to stay off railroad property.Shari Frances Jones, 45, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-dilantin. She was charged by Nesquehoning police for having the drug in her cell at the county prison where she was serving a weekend sentence. Jones had a prescription for the drug but was told the prior weekend by prison officials she was not allowed to bring the drug to the jail but did anyway.Matika placed her on probation for six months.Lisa E. Serafine, 51, of Tamaqua R.D., pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement. She was arrested on Sept. 2, 2011, in the parking lot of the Dollar Store in Weatherly. Borough police responded to the area to a report of a DUI driver. Serafine was a passenger in the suspect vehicle.She was placed on probation for six months on each count running concurrently and ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service.Holly A. Filer-Pallone, 27, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on June 25 2011, at Boyer's Market in Lansford. She was charged with taking $22.64 worth of merchandise without paying for it.Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a mental health evaluation and supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee. Because it was a third offense the charge is rated a felony three.Cody Scott Kmetz, 20, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on May 3 by Nesquehoning police for an incident at the Turkey Hill Market along Catawissa St. His car struck another vehicle in the lot. He left the scene but returned while police were investigating the incident. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.Matika sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one year license suspension, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service. He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 24.Jeffrey Lee Berger, 28, of Slatington, pleaded to one count each of unauthorized use of a automobile and a summary of driving under suspension. He was arrested on Oct. 8, 2007, along Mahoning Drive East in Mahoning Township, operating a 1998 Dodge Caravan owned by Norman and Flossie Smith without their permission. His license was under suspension for nonpayment of fines.He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to make restitution of $190 to the Smith's, and render 50 hours of community service. On the summary he was fined $200.Tiffany Lee Binder, 30, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property. She was arrested on Nov. 10, 2011, by Lansford polcie for taking a purse belonging to Lorraine Breslin, and removing various prescription medication from the purse.Matika deferred sentencing to a later date.Dana Getz, 44, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of resisting arrest. She was arrested on Feb. 6 by Palmerton police at a residence along Mauch Chunk Road. Marcia Andrews is the listed victim.Matika deferred sentencing to a later date.Richard John Padora, 28, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a misdemeanor three. He was arrested by Nesquehoning police on Dec. 13, 2011, in the area of 200 W. Catawissa St., with Richard Gechter the listed victim.Padora told the court he spent over six months in the Salvation Army inpatient drug program and is drug free.Matika sentenced him to 11 to 23 days in jail, giving him credit for 23 days already spent in prison, and immedidately paroled him.Melanie Osie Dale, 28, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. Summit Hill police responded to 104 Lansford Court in the Lansford Townhouse section for a reported drug overdose. Dale was the person who overdosed.Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a D&A evaluation, and zero tolerance imposed on D&A use.Joseph Terry Hudock, 22, of Thornhurst, Lackawanna County, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Jan. 7 along SR903 by Kidder Township police after being involved in an accident. Given a test, the result was .21BAC.Matika sentenced him to serve 48 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $500, one year license suspension, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service. He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Aug. 31.Laura Redner, 29, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on May 23 at the Family Dollar Store in Palmerton for taking $16.43 worth of merchandise without paying for it.Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service, and not go on the store property during the probation period.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs, which average close to $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.