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Man who led police on chase pleads guilty

A Summit Hill man, who led police on a chase through a corn field, causing damages to the property, entered guilty pleas in the county court on Tuesday.

Lawrence Michael Mustacchio, 56, pleaded guilty to one count each of driving under the influence, driving under suspension-DUI related, and criminal trespass-agricultural crop destruction. Mustacchio was arrested following an incident on Aug. 2, 2014, in Mahoning Township.State police at Lehighton attempted to stop Mustacchio along Mahoning Drive when they observed him driving erratically. Mustacchio did not stop and led police on a chase. He drove his vehicle through a corn field along the road causing damages to the property. He was arrested after he couldn't get his vehicle out of the field, police said.Mustacchio said he has struggled with alcohol abuse due to family problems, including the loss of a child. He is also facing a probation revocation hearing and is an inmate in the county prison on a detainer filed by the adult probation office.On the criminal trespass count, Matika sentenced him to serve 90 days to one year in jail and render 50 hours of community service.On the suspension count he was sentenced to serve 60 to 90 days, must serve the full 90 days, concurrent with the first count.On the DUI charge he was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail, consecutive to the other counts. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $300 and his license was suspended for a year. He must also render a total of 75 hours of community service, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, pay court costs of about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.He will not serve any more time on the charges as he was given credit for 106 days already spent in jail on the counts. He will remain in prison, however, pending a hearing on the probation violation petition filed by the probation office.