Defendants in pending criminal cases entered guilty pleas before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Erick S. Mack, 36, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of simple assault.He was charged by Lansford police for assaulting his wife on June 15 at their residence. Charges of terroristic threats and public drunkenness were dropped in a plea bargain.When police arrived on scene, the victim said she feared for her life because of threats made by Mack.Nanovic accepted the plea but deferred sentencing.Christopher John Kovalchick, 32, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of retail theft for an incident on July 31, 2016, at Walmart in Mahoning Township. In exchange for that plea the district attorney's office agreed to drop a second retail theft charge for an incident on July 19, 2016, at Giant in Mahoning Township. However, he will be responsible for restitution in that incident.Kovalchick is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison serving a one- and 23-month term for retail theft.Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 23 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and make restitution to Walmart for $793.96 and to Giant for $203.He was given credit for nine days and the term runs concurrent with Lehigh.Lawrence Alfred Stewart, 49, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property.He was arrested for stealing a large bird cage from the property of Daniel Comisac, 67 W. Catawissa St., by Nesquehoning police. The cage is valued at $300.Nanovic told Stewart, based on his prior record and the charge, a misdemeanor 1, he is facing a prison term with the standard range between three and 14 months.Sentencing was deferred so Stewart could apply for placement in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program - house arrest.Zachary John Bartenope, 18, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of retail theft.He was arrested on June 15 by Mahoning Township police at Walmart store. He took $84.42 worth of merchandise.Nanovic deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.Michael Joseph Atkinson, 27, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of access device fraud.He was arrested by Nesquehoning police for an incident involving the use of another person's credit card without permission at the CVS pharmacy and Turkey Hill market.Atkinson admitted to a drug addiction problem and said he spent 76 days in an inpatient rehabilitation program.Nanovic placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use and make restitution of $241.04.Ly Asia Moniq Hightower, 29, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of retail theft, as a felony 3.She was arrested on April 22 by Mahoning Township police at Walmart, where she took $35.66 worth of merchandise.Nanovic placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to make restitution to Walmart for $35.66 and supply a DNA sample.All those sentenced were also ordered to pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.