A Philadelphia man, who previously pleaded guilty to his fifth driving under the influence charge, was sentenced to a prison term on Thursday afternoon in Carbon County court.

He was one of eight defendants, all who previously entered pleas in drunken driving cases, to be sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Turnpike stop

Jermaine David Clarke

, 41, was sentenced to serve six months to two years in the county prison after Nanovic rejected a request to sentence him to a mandatory minimum of 72 hours.

Nanovic noted it was Clarke’s fifth DUI conviction. He also noted that Clarke was uncooperative with state police from Pocono barracks at the stop, making accusations against the person who called troopers to alert them of an erratic driver along the turnpike in Penn Forest Township on July 1, 2016. Clarke submitted to a blood test that revealed a 0.21 BAC. Nanovic said Clarke had a high blood/alcohol level and made accusations against a person he didn’t even know. The jurist also said at the time of his arrest he was on probation for another DUI.

Clarke asked if he could serve the time on consecutive periods of three days each week, Saturday to Tuesday. He said he recently started his own business and wanted to keep it going. Nanovic agreed, but noted, “that’s going to take over a year to complete the sentence.”

Nanovic also imposed a fine of $1,500 and a one-year license suspension.

Clarke begins the jail term at 10 a.m. on June 29 and will serve it on consecutive three-day periods until the six months is finished.

Two DUIs

John Thomas Reppert

, 30, of Palmerton, was sentenced on two counts of DUI.

On the first count he was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and a one-year license suspension. On the second DUI he was sentenced to serve 90 days to five years, a fine of $1,500 and an 18-month license suspension. The prison terms run concurrently.

He was given credit for 74 days spent in an inpatient drug rehabilitation program.

He was arrested on Nov. 23, 2018, by Lehighton police along Route 443. The other arrest occurred on Feb. 6, 2018, by Lehighton police along First Street. In both cases tests revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He will begin serving the 16 days remaining on his sentence at 9 a.m. on June 28.

Other cases

Troy Daramanee Lewis

, 40, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension.

He was arrested on Nov. 14, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He begins his jail term at 10 a.m. on June 28.

Sharon Ann Gorski

, 53, of McAdoo, was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in jail, pay a fine of $300 and one-year license suspension.

She was arrested on Feb. 12, 2018, by state police at Hazleton along Oak Street in Banks Township. A test revealed a 0.20 BAC.

She begins the jail term at 10 a.m. on June 24 and will serve it on consecutive three-day periods.

Chad M. Lutsko

, 41, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and a one-year license suspension.

He arrested on Jan. 31 by Lehighton police along Route 443. He refused a test.

He is currently an inmate in the county prison on another pending DUI charge.

Timothy Foley

, 24, of Albrightsville, was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 as a first-time offender.

He was arrested on Sept. 16, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township.

Matthew R. Lasky

, 24, of Summit Hill, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension.

He arrested on April 1, 2017, by Lansford police along Kline Avenue. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. He was previously placed in the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked for violating conditions.

He was given credit for one year spent in jail on the charge. He will begin serving the other two days at 5:30 p.m. on June 28.

James Russell Meckes

, 41, of Weissport, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension.

He was arrested on June 24, 2017, along Route 443 by Lehighton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was given credit for two days already served and will begin serving the third day at 3:30 p.m. on June 18.

Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation and follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.