A Florida man, formerly of Easton, was sentenced to a state prison term on Monday in Carbon County court on a theft charge.

He was one of three defendants who previously pleaded guilty to criminal counts sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass.Penn Forest bankMichael Steven Jopling, 44, of Tampa, was sentenced to serve 14 to 28 months in a state correctional institution of a charge of theft by deception, a felony.Jopling was arrested by state police at Lehighton for an incident at the Jim Thorpe National Bank branch office in Penn Forest Township.Jopling deposited a check in a new account at the bank from an account at another bank, which was already closed. He then made withdrawals before the victim received notice of the closed account.Jopling is currently an inmate in the Northampton County prison on a parole violation and is awaiting resentencing.Serfass said Jopling appears to be an intelligent person who went down the wrong road. Serfass also rejected a request to sentence Jopling to a county prison term noting his prior record and the recommendation of the probation office that a state prison term be imposed. Serfass said, "I think the recommendation is appropriate in this case."In addition the jail term Joping was ordered to make restitution to the bank for $7,806; and supply a DNA sample.Other casesPeter James Bandie III, 55, of Slatington, was sentenced to serve 48 hours to six months in prison on a driving under the influence charge.He was arrested on Oct. 4, 2013, at 10:31 p.m. in the 400 block of Lehigh Avenue in Palmerton. He backed his car into a parked vehicle causing damages. It was noted a civil action is pending in the case filed by the owner of the struck vehicle for damages.In addition to the jail term, Bandie was ordered to pay a fine of $500, one-year license suspension, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and render 25 hours of community service.He will begin the jail term at 7 p.m. on July 11.Shawn Filchner, 43, of Palmerton, was placed on probation for 36 months on a bad check charge.He was arrested by Palmerton police for an incident involving the National Penn Bank as the victim. Filchner deposited checks from a closed account with another bank into a new account of Mary McKittrick, also of Palmerton. The checks were immediately written from the new account for the amounts deposited. The original checks deposited were returned due to a closed account. A total of seven checks were cashed.Filchner was ordered to make restitution of $1,942.84 to McKittrick and render 150 hours of community service. McKittrick, it was reported, has already reimbursed the bank.Each defendant must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.