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Philly man gets long prison term for breakins

A Philadelphia man, already serving a long state prison term imposed in other counties, was sentenced to more time on Tuesday morning in Carbon County court.

He was one of several defendants who previously pleaded guilty to be sentenced by Senior Judge Richard W. Webb.Gary Kieffer, 41, was sentenced by Webb to serve a total of 90 to 180 months in a state prison after previously pleading guilty to four counts of burglary, and one count each of robbery, criminal trespass, and theft. The prison term runs consecutive to the prison term Kieffer is currently serving.Kieffer was charged by Kidder Township police and state police at Fern Ridge for breaking into several homes in Kidder and Penn Forest townships.When Webb noted Kieffer was facing the same type of crimes in Montgomery and Buck counties, the defendant said he had already been sentenced. He told Webb he was currently serving a 65 to 130-year term. He also told Webb he has only been free of a prison for a total of six months since he turned 18.Webb also ordered total restitution of $20,190.50 to the various victims and insurance companies involved. Kieffer was also ordered to supply a DNA sample.State timeKeith Cheadle, 18, of Upper Darby, Delaware County, and formerly of Lehighton, was sentenced to a state prison term on burglary and theft charges.Webb sentenced him to serve 12 to 120 months in a state prison. Cheadle was arrested by Lehighton police for an incident on Aug. 4, 2011, at 442 Cypress St. with Tammy Williams the listed victim.He was also ordered to pay total restitution of $1,694, get both a drug and alcohol (D&A) and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and have no contact with the victim.Other casesOther defendants appearing before Webb included:Eugene Jefferson Sillers, 23, of Lehighton, appeared on three cases and was placed on probation for a total of three years. He previously pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance-heroin, criminal attempt-burglary, and possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on the possession of heroin count on Jan. 16 by Lehighton police along S. First St.; on the criminal attempt count by borough police for an incident on Feb. 11 at the Lehighton Coin & Gold Exchange on First St.; and on the paraphernalia charge on Nov. 10, 2011, at the residence of a relative in Lehighton. In that case police responded to a person unconscious. Heroin was found on Sillers.Webb also imposed zero tolerance on D&A use, and ordered he supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee.He was given credit for five days spent in jail.Paul R. Williams, 41, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve three to 12 months on a charge of possession of a controlled substance-oxycodone, and one to six months on a charge of theft, with the terms running consecutively.He was arrested on the possession count by Lehighton police on Sept. 23, 2011, in the area of 42 School St. Police were called to the area and arrested Williams for taking the prescription drug of another person.Webb imposed zero tolerance on D&A use.Williams, who was granted work release privileges, was given credit for 28 days spent in prison on the charge. He begins the jail term at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22.Chad Harrison Hartsell, 30, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in a state prison on charge of criminal attempt to bring contraband into a prison.He was one of 11 persons arrested by agents of the state Attorney General's office who were charged with having the drug suboxone sent to him at the county prison in the mail.The drug was placed on a film-like strip underneath the postage stamp on the letter. Most of the defendants in that case have already pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.At the time of the arrests District Attorney Gary F. Dobias called the investigation, "Operation Postage Stamp."Hartsell was also ordered to supply a DNA sample and pay the $250 fee. He was given credit for 423 days he has spent in prison to date.Robert Perez, 36, of Lansford, was sentenced to serve 90 days to 18 months in prison on a charge of simple assault.He was arrested by Lansford police on Sept. 24, 2007, for an incident at Bertsch and Chestnut streets, with Harry Dale the listed victim.Webb also ordered he attend and complete anger management counseling, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and have no contact with the victim.He will serve the prison term on consecutive three-day weekends beginning Friday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m.Ferderick R. Koeser Jr., 48, formerly of Pocono Lake, and now of St. Petersburg, Fla., was sentenced to serve 29 days to 60 days in jail on a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. He was arrested in March 2011 along SR940 in Kidder Township. Given a test, the result was .16BAC.On a summary offense of driving under suspension he was fined $200 and costs.Webb gave him credit for 29 days spent in a inpatient rehabilitation program and immediately paroled him.Charles H. Hemmen, 25, of Ambler, was sentenced to serve six to one day less 24 months in prison on a charge of theft by unlawful taking or disposition.He was arrested by Jim Thorpe police for an incident in July 24 where a motorcycle was stolen. Borough police were later notified by Ambler police that the bike was found at Hemmen's home.Webb also ordered the jail term would be followed by three years of probation. The prison term is concurrent with another prison term Hemmen is serving in another county.Dustin Ryan Hill, 23, of Tamaqua R.D., was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail on a DUI charge. He was arrested on Aug. 25, 2010, along SR54 in Nesquehoning. Given a test, the result showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,000, get a D&A evaluation, and license suspended for a year. He begins the jail term at 9 a.m. on Sept. 25.Daniel Jacob Snyder, 26, of Palmerton, was sentenced to a total of two years probation on two counts of criminal mischief and one count of theft.He was arrested on the one count of mischief on July 12, 2011, in the area of 30 Penn Ave., Palmerton; on the second count of mischief and theft for an incident on July 12 in the area of 777 Columbia Ave., Palmerton. He had also pleaded to a summary charge of disorderly conduct.Webb ordered he get both a D&A and mental health evaluations, and imposed zero tolerance on D&A use. On the conduct charge he was fined $100 and costs.Louis Zelinski, 20, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve three to 12 months in prison on a charge of possession of a controlled substance (heroin), and one year probation on a charge of persistent disorderly conduct.He was arrested for the drug count by state police following a vehicle stop along S. Second St., in Lehighton. Found in a backpack in the vehicle were plastic baggies of heroin. Zelinski admitted the baggies belonged to him.Webb ordered he also get a D&A evaluation.He began the jail term on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m.Pleads guiltyMary M. Powers, 45, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of theft, as a felony three.She was charged by state police at Fern Ridge, along with two others, for receiving a check for a charity for $10,000, cashing it and placing it in bank accounts and using the funds for themselves when they knew the check did not belong to them.Webb accepted the plea but deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.All defendants 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.