A daylong session of guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Thursday, which continued into the late afternoon, was dominated by driving under the influence cases.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II accepted guilty pleas to DUI and related charges from a total of 16 defendants. They included the following:Jesse Ryan Hess, 33, of Beaver Meadows, also pleaded to one count each of unauthorized use of an automobile and driving while under suspension-DUI related.He was arrested on the DUI charge on Sept. 28, 2015, by Beaver Meadows police. He refused a blood test. The unauthorized use charge stems from an Oct. 8, 2015, incident filed by state police at Hazleton. He took a vehicleand was involved in a crash with it later in Banks Township. At the time his license was under suspension.Nanovic deferred sentencing because Hess has applied for placement in the state Intermediate Punishment program through Luzerne County. He will be transferred to a state correctional institution to be evaluated for the program.Jennifer Rene Rufe, 29, of Effort, was arrested on March 27, 2015, along Route 209 in Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. She didn't immediately stop and was charged with fleeing and eluding. That charge was dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney's office.She is facing a mandatory 90 days minimum in jail. Sentencing was deferred so she could apply for the Intermediate Punishment Program - house arrest.Jason Allen Rao,42, of Lehighton, pleaded in two pending cases - one count of DUI and one count of possession of a controlled substance.He was arrested on the DUI count on Feb. 6 along Route 443 by Lehighton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was arrested on the drug count on April 15 by Lehighton police. He was picked up on a warrant and found to have eight morphine pills in his possession.Nanovic deferred sentencing so Rao can get a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI count and apply for the IPP.Dale Allen Fink, 18, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on Feb. 8, 2015, along Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so Fink can obtain a D&A evaluation.Mark Steven Holland, 50, of Jim Thorpe, was arrested on Aug. 15, 2015, along Lafayette Avenue by Palmerton police. A test revealed a 0.17 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so Holland can get a comprehensive D&A evaluation.Matthew Charles Althouse, 20, of Bowmanstown, was arrested on Dec. 6, 2015, along Mauch Chunk Road, in Palmerton by state police at Lehighton. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so Althouse can obtain a D&A evaluation.Earl James Zuellig II,45, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to two counts of DUI. The first arrest occurred on Jan. 2 along Route 534 in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge; the second on March 11 along Route 903 also by Fern Ridge troopers. Tests revealed 0.14 BAC in the first stop and 0.17 BAC in the second.Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a D&A evaluation.David Paul Huszar Jr.,51, of Palmerton, was arrested on Feb. 13 along Mauch Chunk Road by Palmerton police. He refused a blood test.Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for the IPP.James Eric Fisher,53, of Nazareth, was arrested on June 21, 2015, along Mauch Chunk Road by Palmerton police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a D&A evaluation.Harry Clarance Read III,37, of Bangor, was arrested on Sept. 24, 2015, along Route 209 in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a D&A evaluation and apply for the IPP.Kelsey Dee Berkes,22, of Lehighton, was arrested on Nov. 7, 2015, along Route 209 in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. A test showed 0.15 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so she can obtain a comprehensive D&A evaluation.Jeffrey Michael Ecklof, 31, of Lehighton, was arrested on Jan. 29 along Route 2015 by Franklin Township police. A test showed 0.27 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so he could apply for the IPP.John Edward Witcofsky,43, of Lehighton, was arrested on July 4, 2015, along Fairyland Road in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. A test showed 0.26 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a D&A evaluation.Patrick Joseph Janecki, 24, of Albrightsville, was arrested on Sept. 14, 2015, along Mechesville Road in Penn Forest Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed 0.10 BAC.Sentencing was deferred.John Michael Snyder, 59, of Palmerton, was arrested on Dec. 6, 2015, along Mauch Chunk Road in Palmerton by state police at Lehighton. A test showed 0.11 BAC.Sentencing was deferred.Richard Edward Flowerdew,40, of Macungie, was arrested on Feb. 5 along Maury Road in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. A test showed 0.08 BAC.A first offense, Nanovic placed him on probation for six months and ordered he pay a fine of $300, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation. On a summary offense he was fined $50 and costs.