A Lehigh County woman admitted to a drug dealing charge in Carbon County court on Thursday afternoon.

She was one of five defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Controlled buy

Samantha Tagliaterra

, 25, of Whitehall, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility, a felony. Tagliaterra was originally charged with 15 drug-related counts including four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and counts of possession of a controlled substance and other counts of criminal use of a communication facility. All but one of the charges were dropped in a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office.

Tagliaterra was arrested on Aug. 28, 2018, after she sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant being used by the state Attorney General’s drug enforcement unit. The sale was arranged by cellphone. The police report indicates a Sept. 5, 2018, date for a sale.

Sentencing was deferred at the request of the defendant. Her attorney said he wanted to present medical records to the court at the time of sentencing.

Other pleas

Tarah Marie Strausberger

, 35, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property.

She was arrested by Lehighton police who found her inside the building in the 100 block of South Street, which is owned by the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce. When confronted by police, Strausberger said she was in the process of buying the building. When a representative of the chamber was contacted, they informed police no such sale was being made and that Strausberger had no permission to be in the building. Evidence at the scene indicated she had been sleeping there and eating food at the site. Police also indicated she was homeless at the time.

Serfass sentenced her to time-served (55 days) to one year in jail and ordered her to get a mental health evaluation, make restitution of $100 to the victim and render 50 hours of community service.

Strausberger will not be released until she establishes a residence approved by the adult probation office.

Patrick Herbert Jr.

, 43, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

He was charged by Jim Thorpe police for an incident on Aug. 29, 2018, at a residence along High Street. Police responded to the scene and learned from the female homeowner that Herbert had wanted to stay at the home overnight and was told he couldn’t. An altercation occurred and the female said she had been assaulted.

Sentencing was deferred as Serfass ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Justin Matthew Schuch

, 24, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

He was arrested on Feb. 23 when Jim Thorpe police responded to the Union Publick House along Center Street. Schuch was a patron in the bar and was told to leave by the bartender, who said he had enough to drink. While leaving the bar, he assaulted the bartender.

Sentencing was deferred because of a question concerning proper restitution due in the case.

Edward Fran McGlynn III

, 29, of Branchburg, New Jersey, pleaded to one count of theft by deception.

He was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge after they received a report from a female resident of Penn Forest Township. McGlynn represented to the victim he was selling a refrigerator belonging to a family member for $400. The victim sent him a $100 deposit but McGlynn never delivered the refrigerator.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he make restitution of $300 to the victim and render 50 hours of community service.

ARDs

Two defendants were placed in Carbon County’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program for first-time offenders.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program their record will be wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete it, or are revoked from it, then they would face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.

Austin Anthony Redden

, 20, of Lehighton, was placed on a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — marijuana.

He was arrested on May 20 by Mahoning Township police who responded to a Jamestown Street residence for a domestic dispute. On scene police found 77 baggies of suspected marijuana belonging to Redden.

He was placed for two years and ordered to pay $450 assessment fee, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and render 100 hours of community service.

Danielle Dawn Walsh

, 27, of Albrightsville, was placed on a resisting arrest and related counts. She was charged by Lehighton police for an incident at a bar in the borough on May 23. Police responded to a theft incident. On scene a male told police Walsh took his car keys and would not return them. When police told her to return the keys, she refused. When placed under arrest she struggled with the officers.

She was placed for 18 months and assessed $450 and ordered to render 75 hours of community service.

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