A Berks County man was sentenced to a long probationary term in Carbon County court on a charge of criminal trespass, to which he previously pleaded.

He was one of two defendants who previously entered guilty pleas to criminal counts who were sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika on Friday.

Mahoning incident

Matthew S. Setley

, 43, of Shillington, was placed on four years of probation of the trespass charge.

Mahoning Township police charged Setley with entering a home along Mahoning Drive West on July 20, 2017. Removed from the residence was an electronic device and various tools.

When Setley entered his plea, a jury was waiting in another courtroom to hear his case. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office dropped counts of burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

The victims of the incident were Setley’s former in-laws.

Since his arrest, Setley spent 14 months in an inpatient drug rehabilitation program. He told the court he fueled his drug habit by stealing. He said he was addicted to heroin.

He apologized to the victims and told the court he has “changed his life.” He said he is working full time and continues counseling.

The victim said some of the tools taken have not been returned, but admitted they could be in the hands of police, who are keeping them until the case is over. The victim also told Matika that the incident has changed his and his wife’s lives. They now fear someone entering their home. He also said the sentencing guidelines in the case, which called for a probation to three-month prison term, was just a “slap on the hand.”

In addition to the probation term, Matika ordered Setley to make restitution of $4,771.01, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample, have no contact with the victims and render 100 hours of community service.

Lansford case

Edward Leonard Rivera Jr.

, 31, of Minersville, and formerly of Tamaqua, was placed on probation for 18 months on a charge of receiving stolen property.

He was charged by Lansford police for his part in an entry to a home along East Abbott Street. A television and assorted jewelry items were taken. There are two co-defendants in the case. A petition he filed previously to withdraw his plea was denied by Matika.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample, make restitution of $2,654.56, have no contact with the victim and render 75 hours of community service.

Rivera is currently an inmate in the Schuylkill County prison on a probation violation charge.

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