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Two get jail terms for threats; others enter guilty pleas

Two men pleaded guilty to threat counts Thursday in Carbon County court in separate incidents and were sentenced to prison terms.

The two were among a total of 10 defendants in pending criminal cases to enter pleas before Judge Joseph J. Matika.Lansford incidentRoberto Magobet, 36, of Lansford, pleaded in two pending cases, both involving the same victim, his girlfriend.He pleaded to one count of terroristic threats and simple assault for an incident on Feb. 21 at 369 W. Ridge St., Lansford. Borough police responded to the home for a report of an assault. On scene officers were told by Magobet's live-in girlfriend, Stacy Fortin, that he assaulted and threatened her.On Dec. 11, 2013, officers were called to the same location for another incident involving Magobet and Fortin. In that case he pleaded to one count of harassment.Matika sentenced him on the threats count to serve six to 12 months in prison and ordered he have no contact with the victim, render 25 hours of community service, and attend and complete an anger management program.The same sentence was imposed on the assault count with the terms running concurrent.On the harassment charge he was fined $200.He was granted work release privileges if he qualifies. Magobet, who was released from the jail on Wednesday on other counts, immediately began his new sentence.Weatherly incidentRyan James Morresi, 30, of Hazle Township, pleaded to one count of terroristic threats.He was arrested by Weatherly police on Dec. 1, 2013, after he called the county communications center and threatened his sister, Jennifer Rose Coxe, of Weatherly. He made a second call to the center and threatened the lives of borough police officers. That was the threat he pleaded to.Matika sentenced him to serve six to 12 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and render 50 hours of community service.He was given credit for 44 days already spent in jail on the charge.Other pleasOther defendants who entered pleas included:Jon Joseph Njagu, 27, of Stroudsburg, pleaded to one count of retail theft, as a felony three.He was arrested on Dec. 18, 2013, by Mahoning Township police for his part in a theft at the Wal-Mart store. There was another suspect in the incident but never caught.Njagu is currently serving a two- to 12-month prison term in Lackawanna County for retail theft and has a pending retail theft charge in Monroe County.Matika sentenced him to serve two to 12 months in prison concurrent with Lackawanna County, and ordered he render 50 hours of community service when paroled, get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance for D&A use, and supply a DNA sample.Matthew D. Komishock, 29, of Coaldale, and formerly of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count each of burglary and possession of a controlled substance.He was arrested on the burglary count on Feb. 20 for an entry to a home along Springgarden Street by Lansford police. Taken was cash from Maryann Arieta.The drug count stems from a Dec. 3, 2013, vehicle stop along Route 209 by Nesquehoning police.Matika deferred sentencing.Jennifer Rose Coxe, 39, of Weatherly, and formerly of Beaver Meadows, pleaded to one count of disorderly conduct as a summary offense.She was arrested on June 15, 2013, by state police at Hazleton for an incident involving Lillian Skulsky, of 58 New St., Beaver Meadows, as the victim.Matika imposed a fine of $300.James L. Smith Jr., 24, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense.He was arrested on June 1, 2013, by state police at Hazleton for an incident at 82 E. Market St., Banks Township, with his 16-year-old daughter the victim.He was fined $150.Barry Allen Frantz, 44, of Blakeslee, pleaded to one count of retail theft, as a felony three.He was arrested on Dec. 20, 2013, by Mahoning Township police for an incident at the Wal-Mart store.Sentencing was deferred and Matika ordered a PSI report.Peggy Sue Hill, 38, of Coaldale, formerly of Lansford, pleaded to one count of retail theft, as a felony three.She was arrested on June 16, 2013, by Lansford police for an incident at the Family Dollar Store along East Patterson Street.Sentencing was deferred.Charles I. Jenkins, 48, of White Haven, pleaded to one count of retail theft, as a misdemeanor one.He was arrested on April 23, 2013, by Mahoning Township police for an incident at the Wal-Mart store.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he make restitution of $178, render 25 hours of community service, and stay out of Wal-Mart store in the township.Alainna Marie Bunch, 34, of Palmerton, formerly of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon.She was arrested on Oct. 14, 2012, when police responded to 116 W. Wood, Snow Ridge Village, Kidder Township, for a domestic dispute. On scene officers found Bunch in possession of a set of brass knuckles with a knife on the end.Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee.