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Carbon County court - DUI

Four people entered guilty pleas to driving under the influence and related charges on Tuesday in Carbon County court.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted pleas from the following:John Matthew Cambria-Raygoza,29, of Nesquehoning, also pleaded to one count of accidents involving death or personal injury.He was arrested on March 10, 2014, along Market Street by Nesquehoning police who responded to a reported hit-and-run. Police said Cambria-Raygoza fled the scene of the crash but was later located. A test showed 0.15 BAC.Sentencing was deferred.Stephen Charles Valkos,49, of Weatherly, also pleaded to driving while under suspension-DUI related.He was arrested on Dec. 29, 2014, by Beaver Meadows police along Broad Street. A test showed 0.08 BAC.On the suspension count he was sentenced to serve six to 12 months in prison with credit for 141 days already served. On the DUI count he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300. It was noted he spent 21 days in an inpatient rehabilitation program.Samantha M. Merritt,30, of Selden, New York, was arrested on Feb. 14 along Route 534 in Albrightsville by Kidder Township police. A test showed 0.16 BAC.He was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail, a fine of $300, one-year license suspension, render 25 hours of community service and zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use. He will serve the jail term beginning at 9 p.m. Aug. 26 and serve three days, and then Sept. 2 and serve two days.Kevin Robert Longazel,38, of Freeland, was arrested on March 23 along Lehigh Gorge Drive in Lehigh Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred to so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and also apply for placement in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program - house arrest.SentencedCharles Lamar Harris, 40, of Williamsport, was sentenced on a DUI charge he previously pleaded guilty to.He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension, and render 25 hours of community service. He will begin the jail term at noon Sept. 12.He was arrested on Feb. 21 along Interstate 80 westbound in East Side Borough by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation of parole.