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Two more scheduled for trial enter guilty pleas to charges

Two more defendants, who were scheduled to go on trial this week in Carbon County court on criminal counts, entered guilty pleas Monday instead.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II accepted the pleas and immediately imposed sentences.Drug chargesAmy L. Blocker, 26, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-crack cocaine.She was arrested by Mahoning Township police for an incident on Oct. 31, 2010, at the Walmart store. She was initially arrested for retail theft at the store. Police took her into custody and transported her to the police station for processing.Police said while being transported Blocker hid crack cocaine in the cruiser which was found by the officers and led to the drug counts. Found was a plastic bag containing 15 rocks of crack cocaine.A charge of possession with intent to deliver was dropped in a plea bargain.Blocker told Nanovic she was addicted to drug use for several years. She said after being incarcerated she entered drug treatment programs and has been drug free for about two years. She continues counseling sessions. Nanovic told her he fully intended to place her in prison on the charge but since she had addressed her problem and has been drug free for so long he had changed his mind.Nanovic placed her on probation for three years and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, continue her attending weekly counseling sessions, and zero tolerance imposed on D&A use.The term runs consecutive to a probation term she is currently serving in Lehigh County.Phony 20sEugene Sillers, 24, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of forgery, as a felony two.He admitted attempting to pass two phony 20 dollar bills at Fritz's Lanes in Lehighton on May 21, 2012. He left the business prior to the arrival of borough police. However, he went to Mallard's Market in the borough and attempted to pass two of the bills there. That is where police caught up with him. He had a total of six phony bills on him when police took him into custody. He was unable to pass any of the bills.Nanovic sentenced him to serve three to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered he get a D&A evaluation, and imposed zero tolerance on D&A use.He was given credit for 288 days spent in jail on the charge and was immediately paroled.Both defendants must also pay court costs, which average close to $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.