A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term on Tuesday in the county court after previously pleading guilty to drug dealing. He was one of five defendants who entered guilty pleas in prior proceedings to be sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Thorpe incidentEarl A. Eldridge, 32, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced to serve 18 to 48 months in a state prison on a single count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin.Eldridge was arrested by borough police with selling heroin to a confidential informant (CI) on Oct. 7, 2011. He sold three packets of heroin to the CI for $60. On Oct. 14, 2011, he sold three more packs of the drug to the CI for another $60.Eldridge is not finished with the justice system. He faces a probation violation proceeding on a drunk driving charge and has another drug case pending in the county court.Serfass also ordered Eldridge to supply a DNA sample, render 200 hours of community service when released on parole, and imposed zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.He was given credit for nine days spent in jail on the charge.Other casesOther defendants who appeared before Serfass for sentencing included:Dale Michael Wakefield Jr., 20, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve seven to 23 months in the county prison on charges of terroristic threats and simple assault, followed by 24 months on probation on a charge of escape.He was charged on the first counts for an incident on Sept. 2, 2012, at his residence along SR534 in Penn Forest Township. Wakefield had an altercation with his mothter, Theresa Wafefield, concerning the use of her vehicle. He admitted striking her with a baseball bat on the right thigh. He left the home prior to the arrival of state troopers from the Fern Ridge barracks.After troopers left the home he returned and threatened her with a knife. He fled the troopers when the later found him which led to the escape charge.Serfass also imposed zero tolerance on drug and alcohol use, get both a mental health and drug and alcohol (D&A) evaluations and follow any recommedations for treatment, and attend and complete anger management counseling.He was given credit for 199 days spent in jail on the charges.Matthew J. Schaffer, 36, of Lehighton, was sentenced to time served (59 days) to one day less 24 months in jail on a charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.He was arrested on Sept. 18, 2012, by Mahoning Township police for an incident involving his wife, Clara Schaffer, as the victim and occurring at their residence.He was also ordered to get both D&A and mental health evaluations, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, attend and complete anger management counseling, and render 100 hours of community service.Kristy Ann Girard, 39, of Albrightsville, was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in jail on a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. She was arrested on July 4, 2012, along Old Stage Road, in Penn Forest Township, by state police at Fern Ridge. Given a test, the result was .27BAC.She qualified for the county's Intermediate Punishment Program (IPP) with electronic monitoring. She will serve two days in jail followed by 28 days in the IPP with monitoring and then the remaining time on probation. She will also render 25 hours of community service.She will begin the jail term on March 26, at 9 a.m.David Rowe, 21, of Palmerton, was sentenced to time served (12 days) to one day less 24 months on a charge of simple assault. He was charged by Palmerton police for an incident in the area of 757 Church St. in which he was causing a disturbance. When police attempted to take him into custody he assaulted officer Shawn Leadbetter by striking him in the face.He was ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, attend and complete anger management counseling, and render 100 hours of community service.Each defendant must also pay court costs, which average close to $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.