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Carbon County court - drug charges

A Carbon County man was sentenced to a county prison term on a drug charge. He was one of two who previously pleaded guilty to criminal counts and were sentenced Tuesday afternoon by Carbon Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Brandon Michael Grammes, 23, of 84 Parker Mew, Albrightsville, who pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility with charges of delivery of a controlled substance-heroin, possession with intent to deliver, and unlawful possession dropped, was sentenced to serve 90 days to a day less 24 months in prison. He was arrested by Jim Thorpe police for incidents that occurred in the borough between June and July 2014.Grammes, who successfully completed six months inpatient at the Salvation Army program in Altoona, told Serfass, "I never realized how bad an addiction I had until I wrecked my mother's car." He added, "The Salvation Army program opened my eyes to how bad I was addicted."Serfass also ordered Grammes to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample, make restitution of $120 to the county drug task force for money used in a drug purchase and render 100 hours of community service.He was given credit for the time spent in the rehab program and paroled.Two DUIsEdward Joseph Zink Jr., 47, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve five days to six months in prison on one DUI charge and six months probation on a second DUI, with the terms running consecutively. He was arrested on July 2, 2015, along Forest Inn Road in Palmerton by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed a 0.10 BAC. The second arrest occurred on Sept. 6, 2015, along Route 895 at Bowmanstown, also by state police at Lehighton. A test revealed a 0.16 BAC.Zink, who also successfully completed inpatient program with the Salvation Army, told the court, "I wish I had the Salvation Army before. I learned a lot." He added, "There couldn't be a better program."Zink was also fined a total of $800, his license was suspended for a year and he was ordered to render a total of 50 hours of community service.He was given credit for the time spent in rehab against the prison term and was paroled.Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.