A former Carbon County man pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the county court to a drug possession count. He was one of three to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Vehicle stopEnrique Ortiz, 47, formerly of Lansford, and now residing in New York City, N.Y., was arrested on the drug count on Jan. 12, 2012, along SR248 at Bowmanstown after a vehicle stop made by state police at Lehighton. He was initially stopped for a equipment violation.At the stop troopers suspected drug activity and were granted a search of the vehicle by Ortiz. Found was heroin and methadone pills. Oritz admitted the heroin was for his personal use. He had a prescription for the pills.He also pleaded to a count of retail theft for an incident on Nov. 30, 2011, at the CVS pharmacy store in Nesquehoning. He took two flat screen televisions from the store, valued at $199.99.Oritz said he was addicted to drugs at the time of the incidents. Defense Attorney George Dydynsky said Oritz had gone through a inpatient drug rehabilitation program for over five months in New York.Matika deferred sentencing so proper documentation can be secured from the drug facility.Other pleasTravis Fichter, 21, of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, pleaded to one count of escape.He was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge for leaving the youth forestry camp in Kidder Township on Aug. 9, 2010, without permission. Fichter had been placed in the facility by the Montgomery County court.Fichter is currently on probation in Montgomery County and has an extensive prior juvenile record.Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office prepare a presentence investigation (PSI) report.Gary Strohl, 25, of Hazleton, pleaded in one count of theft. He was arrested by state police at Hazleton, and charged with removing various electronic items from the residence of David Keiper, of 132 Oak Hill Road, in Packer Township, on May 8, 2012, where he was staying at the time.Strohl is currently on probation in Luzerne County on a theft charge.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he pay restitution of $301, court costs of about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation. The term runs concurrent with the Luzerne sentence, Matika ruled.