Two defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Drug salesMichael Ryan Muth, 24, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of delivery of a controlled substance-heroin.He was charged by agents of the state Attorney General's Office with selling heroin on three separate occasions to an undercover agent. The plea was to one of the sales with charges related to the other sales dropped in a plea bargain.Defense Attorney Joseph D. Perilli told the court it was Muth's first criminal arrest of any kind and asked that he be sentenced in the low end of the state sentencing guidelines.Muth told the court he had only been using heroin for about a year when he was arrested. He said he developed the habit and quickly lost control. He said he was using so much heroin he had to sell the drug to get enough money to feed his own habit.Nanovic told Muth his selling of drugs to others only made more people become dependent on the drug.Nanovic sentenced him to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison. He was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and must supply a DNA sample.He was given credit for 42 days already spent in jail on the charge.Steals for drugsJeremy Todd Scheckler, 24, of Harrisburg, and formerly of Lehighton, entered guilty pleas in two pending cases.He pleaded to one count delivery of a controlled substance-heroin, and theft. A third set of charges, including burglary and related offenses, were dropped in a plea bargain.Scheckler was charged with the delivery count after he sold heroin to an undercover agent of the AG's office on June 25, 2013, in Lehighton.The theft charge stems from entry to the home of Delbert Solt, 2950 Fairyland Road, Franklin Township, that occurred on July 28, 2013. Taken was $800 in cash.Defense Attorney Mark Combi told Nanovic that after his arrests Scheckler attempted to clean up his life. He said he entered the Salvation Army rehabilitation program in Scranton but later transferred to the same program in Harrisburg, where he is now living and working and continuing in a after-care program with the Salvation Army.Scheckler told Nanovic, "A year ago I hit rock bottom. I did a lot of things I never would have done if it wasn't for my drug abuse."He said he stole to get money to feed his habit. He said the Salvation Army program was the best thing to happen to him. He said his current after-care program includes continued counseling sessions. He said he works during the day and comes back to the home where his counseling sessions are held.Nanovic gave him credit for his actions in addressing his problem and also credit for his time in the inpatient programs.On the drug count he was sentenced to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison and was immediately paroled with credit for 30 days spent in jail and the remainder of the inpatient time.On the theft charge he was placed on probation for a year consecutive to the drug count.Nanovic also ordered him to get a D&A evaluation, continue his after-care program until released by the program, make restitution of $800 to Solt, and supply a DNA sample.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.