A Lansford man admitted to a theft charge in Carbon County court on Thursday and was sentenced to a prison term.

He was one of six defendants to enter a guilty plea to criminal charges before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Taxi fare

Matthew Scott Creveling

, 30, admitted not paying for taxi service provided to him on March 8. He hired the taxi in Bethlehem. He had the taxi, Yourway Transportation Taxi, stop in Summit Hill and told the driver he had to go get the money to pay him, but never came back. Summit Hill police responded and later arrested Creveling.

Creveling, who is an inmate in the county prison, said he paid the fare two days later amounting to $167.50.

Creveling said he is facing theft charges in Lehigh County and has another theft count pending in Carbon.

He said he has been battling a drug addiction problem. He told the court, “I neglected my wife and family to do drugs.”

Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison, concurrent with a sentence he is serving, and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.

Other pleas

Kendry Rodriguez

, 20, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of attempted theft by deception.

He was arrested by Mahoning Township police for an incident at the Verizon store along Route 443 on Sept. 14, 2018.

Rodriguez and a female entered the store and attempted to purchase cellphones on an account that did not belong to them. The store personnel became suspicious and called the person on the account, who resides in Florida. That person told them he didn’t give anyone permission to use his account and didn’t know Rodriguez. The manager of the store then called police.

An interpreter was used as Rodriguez does not speak English. He admitted to the theft but asked for probation due to his current employment with a landscaping business. Nanovic rejected that.

Nanovic sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation. The term runs concurrent with a Luzerne County sentence.

He will begin the jail term at noon on Sept. 3. He was granted work-release privileges.

Marisol Elena Magobet

, 40, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of simple assault. She was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge on June 25, 2018. Troopers responded to a residence along Cummings Lane in Penn Forest Township for a reported domestic assault. On scene, officers found the male victim injured. He said he was punched in the face and arm by Magobet, who was identified as his girlfriend.

Magobet said she and the victim still reside together.

Nanovic placed her on probation for six months.

Caleb Matthew Hollenbach

, 20, of Lehighton, pleaded to two counts of persistent disorderly conduct.

He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2018, by Nesquehoning police for an incident along East Railroad Street. Police responded to the area of a male causing a disturbance. Hollenbach, police said, was having an argument with his girlfriend and reportedly yelling obscenities while other people were in the area.

Hollenbach said he became upset because he claimed the arresting officer, Chief Sean Smith, was not acting professionally. A charge of simple assault on Smith was dropped in a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

Nanovic placed him on probation for six months on each count, running concurrently.

Jeffrey Strohl

, 33, of Weissport, pleaded to one count of criminal trespass. He was charged by Weissport police for entering onto the property of his parents, along Prospect Street, when previously told not to come to the property.

Strohl is currently an inmate in the county prison on a pending charge.

Nanovic placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

Ashley M. Thomas

, 32, of Bowmanstown, pleaded to the summary motor vehicle code violation of obscured plates - illegible at reasonable distance. She was arrested on May 10, 2018, by Palmerton police along Mauch Chunk Road. She originally was charged with driving under the influence in addition to the summary offense. The DUI charge was dropped by the DA’s office.

Nanovic imposed a fine of $25 and costs.

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