Drug-related cases topped the list of preliminary hearings before District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer earlier this month.

One defendant elected to have a hearing; one failed to appear in court; and the others all waived their cases to the county court level.

Nancy Cole

, 55, of 71 Bowe St., Tamaqua, went through with her preliminary hearing, but ended with all of the charges being held for criminal trial in Schuylkill County court.

Cole was charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, conspiracy to deliver controlled substances and criminal use of a communication facility, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance.

The charges were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Bradley Hess in connection with a July 18 controlled buy.

Cole was returned to the Schuylkill County Prison in Pottsville in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

Noe Rafael Pena-Cruz

, 27, of 64 E. Jefferson St., Hazleton, had two cases before Judge Bayer, one as a co-conspirator with Cole. He waived both hearings.

In the July 18 case, Pena-Cruz was charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.

The second case was from July 27, when he was charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility, along with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of children.

Those charges were also brought by Tamaqua patrolman Hess.

Bail was modified from $25,000 cash to $25,000 unsecured in the first case and from $50,000 cash to $50,000 unsecured for the second case.

Samuel O. Koch,

58, of 220 High St., Tamaqua, failed to appear to answer to charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, which were filed by Rush Township patrolman Ryan Oldt. The charges stem from an Aug. 23 incident.

A warrant will be issued for Koch’s arrest.

Craig Michael Thomas

, 29, of 1424 E. Broad St., Hazleton, waived hearings on charges related to two drunken driving incidents. McAdoo patrolman William Curilla stopped Thomas on July 15 for failure to obey a traffic control device.

Curilla stopped him again on July 16, this time for making an improper turn. In both cases, Thomas was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol content of 0.16 or greater.

Thomas was released on his own recognizance in both cases.

Daniel M. Waldron,

35, with addresses in Tamaqua and Lehighton, waived a hearing on charges of criminal trespass and defiant trespass in connection with an incident on Sept. 20.

The charges were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Anthony Stanell.

Waldron’s bail was reduced from $10,000 cash to $10,000 unsecured, allowing him to be freed from the Schuylkill County Prison.

Ian Corey Hamilton,

35, of 546 N. Center St., Pottsville, waived a hearing on endangering the welfare of children. The charge was filed by Coaldale patrolman Todd Weiss in connection with an Aug. 9 incident.

Hamilton was released after posting 10 percent of the imposed $5,000 bail.

Elsie L. Donella,

31, of 210 Washington St., Tamaqua, waived a hearing on charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, which were filed by Tamaqua patrolman Stanell.

The charges stem from a Sept. 3 fight.

Donella was released on her own recognizance.