Four defendants sentenced on drunken driving counts
Four defendants in drunken driving cases who previously entered guilty pleas to driving under the influence were sentenced on Tuesday in Carbon County court by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.
Sentenced were:Ervin Jonathan Fetherman, 22, of Altoona, was sentenced to serve three days to six months in prison. He was arrested on Aug. 1, 2013, along Route 209 in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, it showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was also ordered to pay a fine of $2,500, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, have his license suspended for a year, and zero tolerance imposed for D&A use. He was given credit for three days already served and parole.The sentence is concurrent with one he is already serving on another DUI case. He must continue his current after-care program.Shannon M. Hettler, 33, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in prison. Hettler was arrested on July 27, 2013, along Route 209 in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was 0.21 BAC.He was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation, pay a fine of $2,500, have his license suspended for a year, and render 50 hours of community service.He will begin the jail term at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17. Hettler is currently in the county prison serving a term imposed by domestic relations for failing to pay child support.Bruce Allen Laub, 47, of Lehighton, was sentenced on two DUI charges. On the first count he was sentenced to served 90 days to 18 months in prison followed by six months probation. He was arrested on Oct. 30, 2012, along Fairyland Drive in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. Given a test, the result was 0.23 BAC.He was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance for D&A use, pay a fine of $2,500, and have his license suspended for a year. He was given credit for 171 days already served, and the remaining time will be served on consecutive weekends, beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 19.On the second count he was sentenced to serve six to 18 months in prison, concurrent with the first count, followed by six months of probation.Gary Scott Rex, 47, of Palmerton, was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in prison. He was arrested on Oct. 26, 2013, along Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. He refused a blood test and lost his license for a year for the refusal.Rex will serve five months in the IPP after the jail term, with the first 60 days on electronic monitoring, pay a fine of $2,500, have his license suspended for 18 months, and get a D&A evaluation.He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on Sept. 19.Each defendant must also pay court costs, which average about $1,500, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.