Seven defendants in pending drug-related criminal cases entered guilty pleas on Thursday in Carbon County court.

Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas from the following:

Vehicle stop

Michael Hill

, 27, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — methamphetamine.

He was arrested following a vehicle stop on April 13 by Jim Thorpe police along Center Street. The stop followed an ongoing drug investigation of illegal drug sales in the area.

Serfass deferred sentencing so Hill can apply for placement in the state’s Intermediate Punishment Program. The program includes a defendant serving about seven months in jail followed by a period of time in an intensive inpatient drug and alcohol rehab program and time in a halfway house. Hill will be transferred to a state correctional institution for evaluation. If he does not qualify, he will be brought back to Carbon and be sentenced by Serfass.

Hill is currently an inmate in the Schuylkill County prison.

Other pleas

Edwin Evans

, 47, of Harrisburg, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine.

He was arrested on Aug. 13, 2017, by Jim Thorpe police at a residence along Center Street. He also pleaded to one count of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Aug. 8, 2017, by Lehighton police along Mahoning Street.

On the DUI charge Serfass sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and render 25 hours of community service when paroled. On the drug count he was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to the DUI charge, and six months probation on the paraphernalia count, also consecutive to the other counts. He must also render a total of 100 hours of community service when paroled.

Evans, who is an inmate in the county prison, will be transferred to the Cumberland County prison, where he is facing additional charges in that county.

Charles William Wiley

, 34, of Kunkletown, pleaded guilty in two pending cases to one count each of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

He was arrested on the first count on March 13 by Mahoning Township police along Route 443 near the Pizza Hut restaurant. A charge of possession with intent to deliver was dropped in a plea bargain. The second arrest occurred on Oct. 7, 2016, in Jim Thorpe.

Serfass deferred sentencing to Wiley can apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest.

Hector Luis Echevarria III

, 23, of Norristown, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

He was arrested on July 4 by park rangers at Beltzville State Park in Franklin Township. He was found in a vehicle in the “B” lot with illegal drugs.

On the paraphernalia count he was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service. On the marijuana count he was fined $300 and costs.

Alexys Lanzo-Santos

, 25, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana. He was arrested with Echevarria in the same incident.

On the paraphernalia count he was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a D&A evaluation and render 50 hours of community service. On the marijuana count he was fined $300 and costs.

James R. Borosh

, 37, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on March 5 by Mahoning Township police at the Walmart store parking lot.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a D&A evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Darvin Lamar Connor

, 37, of Wilmington, Delaware, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on March 24, 2017, by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop in the area of Route 209 and North First Street in Lehighton.

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a D&A evaluation and render 25 hours of community service.

Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.