Two brothers entered guilty pleas to drug counts in Carbon County court on Tuesday.

They were among 10 defendants in pending cases to enter pleas before Judge Joseph J. Matika.Lansford arrestsTwin brothers Brian Scott Keiffer, 30, of Coaldale, and Michael James Kieffer Jr., 30, of Lansford, each pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana.The two were arrested on Aug. 27 along West Patterson Street by Lansford police.Police responded to the area to a report of suspicious persons. On scene the officers observed four people in the area. When they saw police, the four walked in different directions. Police managed to catch up with the Keiffers. Both admitted to police when stopped that they had marijuana and cooperated with the officers.Both served time in the county prison after failing to post bail. The time they served exceeded the minimum term for the counts they pleaded to with Brian serving 28 days and Michael 33 days.Matika said the prison time spent by the two was sufficient and imposed a fine of $100 on each.Other pleasOther defendants who entered pleas included:Kyle Nalesnik, 24, of Lansford, pleaded guilty to one count of retail theft. He was arrested on June 8, 2013, by Lansford police for an incident at the Rite Aid store along West Bertsch Street. He took items valued at $79.99.Nalesnik was also scheduled to be sentenced in five other cases in which he previously pleaded guilty. The sentencing was deferred on all cases because Nalesnik failed to appear at the adult probation office for a presentence investigation report interview. Matika said he didn't want to sentence Nalesnik until he had the report.Nalesnik was ordered to immediately go to the probation office and arrange for the interview. He was told if he failed to appear for the interview he faced a possible prison term.Dana McFadden, 22, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-heroin. She was arrested when her parents called borough police to come to their home because they found illegal drugs in her bedroom.Since the incident McFadden said she spent 20 days in an inpatient rehabilitation program and also spent time in a aftercare house in Portland, Maine, and is now seeking placement in a similar home in Wilkes-Barre. She said she has had a drug problem since age 15 or 16.Matika said she should be thankful that her parents exhibited "tough love" in calling police because it probably saved her life.McFadden admitted she was at first angry with her parents but now realizes what they did saved her life.Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance on D&A use, and render 50 hours of community service.Elizabeth Els Ruckhardt, 34, of Lehighton, pleaded to a summary offense of driving under suspension.She was arrested on Sept. 18, 2013, by Nesquehoning police along Route 54. A drug count was dropped in a plea agreement. Ruckhardt is currently on probation another charge.Matika imposed a fine of $200 and costs.Joshua Christopher Crable, 27, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on May 27 by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop along Route 895 in East Penn Township. Crable was a passenger in the vehicle.Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered zero tolerance for D&A use and he must render 25 hours of community service.John Matthew Tworkowsky, 21, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property.He was arrested on Dec. 9, 2013, by Mahoning Township police with taking jewelry from the home of Nina Cacace, Lower Nis Hollow Drive. He then sold the jewelry at a Lehighton pawnshop. A theft charge was dropped in a plea agreement.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and make restitution of $145 to the pawnshop. The jewelry was returned to Cacace.Thomas Burns, 46, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of simple assault.He was arrested on Sept. 1 by Lansford police who responded to his home for a domestic dispute with his wife. Burns said he and his wife are trying to work out their problems.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service, and attend and complete anger management counseling.Dylan James Penny, 20, of Effort, pleaded to one count of unsworn falsification.He was arrested by Mahoning Township police for an incident on Nov. 25, 2013, at the Walmart store. While filling out an application to purchase a firearm, Penny answered one question falsely concerning if he was on probation. At the time he was on probation in Monroe County.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service. The term runs concurrent with the Monroe County probation.Keri Highfield, 29, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.She was arrested on Nov. 1, 2013, by Nesquehoning police following a traffic stop along Route 54. She was found to have in her possession a glass pipe used for smoking marijuana.She was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 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 while on probation or parole.