Four defendants in criminal cases, who previously pleaded guilty to various charges, were placed in a special state prison program on Thursday in Carbon County court.

The four were placed in the state’s Intermediate Punishment Program. The program runs for two years and includes about seven months in prison followed by a period of time in an intensive, inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program and then time in a halfway house.

If any of the four fail to complete the program, then they would be brought back to Carbon County for resentencing.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic and Judge Steven R. Serfass placed two each.

Nanovic placements

Derek Michael Hunsicker

, 29, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — fentanyl.

Hunsicker was arrested on May 30 by Jim Thorpe police following a traffic stop along Lentz Trail. Before the stop, police received information that Hunsicker was trafficking in illegal drugs and had some in his possession. He was spotted along Lentz Trail and the stop was made.

He was found with illegal drugs in the car, and in an interview with police admitted to the selling allegations.

Ryan S. Cebrosky

, 26, pleaded to one count each of burglary, a felony, flight to avoid apprehension and possession of a controlled substance and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cebrosky was charged with the burglary count for an incident on July 18 at a residence along Fireline Road in Lower Towamensing Township filed by state police at Lehighton. A handgun was taken in the entry.

The flight to avoid apprehension charge stems from an incident on July 23. Palmerton police observed Cebrosky in the 800 block of Princeton Avenue and knew there was an active warrant for his arrest. When police attempted to take him into custody, he fled but was later caught.

The possession count was filed following a traffic stop by state police at Lehighton along Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township on April 18. The two paraphernalia counts were from incidents on Jan. 28, filed by state police, and July 24, filed by Palmerton police.

Serfass placements

Michael Hill

, 27, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was arrested on April 13, 2018, by Jim Thorpe police following an ongoing investigation of drug activity.

Troy S. Rehrig

, 32, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility. He was charged for an incident on Sept. 27, 2018, along Constitution Avenue in Lehighton. Lehighton police, along with members of the state attorney general’s drug enforcement unit, made the arrest as part of an ongoing investigation of drug distribution in Carbon County.

The police report indicates that Rehrig and two others went to Hazleton and secured fentanyl for resale in Carbon. A vehicle stop was made after the three returned to Carbon. The other two defendants are also facing charges.

Each defendant must pay court costs of about $1,000.