A Carbon County man pleaded guilty on Monday in the county court to drug counts.

He was one of nine defendants in pending drug-related cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Vehicle stops

Jared Lee Behler

, 20, of Palmerton, pleaded to two counts of possession of a controlled substance in two pending cases.

He was arrested following vehicle stops on Feb. 26, 2019, along Bank Street in Bowmanstown by state police at Lehighton and on Dec. 16, 2019, by rangers a Beltzville State Park in Franklin Township along Pohopoco Drive.

Behler is currently an inmate in the county prison facing a probation violation charge and also a pending criminal count.

Matika placed him on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered he render 50 hours of community service when paroled and supply a DNA sample.

Other pleas

Jereese Jerome Brown

, 33, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested following a traffic stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. There were 15 continuances in the case. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office dropped a felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Sentencing was deferred.

Alfonzo Dalessio

, 42, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested following a vehicle stop along Route 209 on Jan. 24, 2018, by Jim Thorpe police. A felony count of PWID was dropped in a plea deal with the DA.

Matika told Dalessio, based on his prior record, he faces a minimum prison term of somewhere between six and 16 months in prison.

Sentencing was deferred.

Donald Brown Jr.,

22, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Aug. 8, 2016, by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop along I-80 in East Side Borough. There were 15 continuances in the case. In exchange for the plea, felony counts of firearms not to be carried without a license and receiving stolen property were dropped by the DA.

Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered he render 25 hours of community service and make restitution of $248.38.

Brandon Michael Kuklentz,

27, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. In a second case he pleaded to one count of accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property. In the drug case a charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on the drug count on July 12, 2019, by state police at Lehighton along State Road in Franklin Township when troopers were serving a warrant. The hit-and-run charge occurred on Oct. 12, 2017, along Catawissa Street in Nesquehoning.

Matika placed him on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.

The terms also run concurrent with a state prison term he is serving at SCI-Chester County.

Letticia M. Silva,

33, of Allentown, pleaded to one count each of possession of a small amount of marijuana and driving under suspension-Dui related. She was arrested on March 29, 2019, by state police at Lehighton along Delaware Avenue in Palmerton.

On the suspension count, Matika sentenced her to serve 30 to 60 days in jail, but she must serve the full 60, and pay a fine of $500. On the drug count she was sentenced to serve 15 to 30 days in jail, but must serve the full 30. The terms run concurrently.

Silva is currently an inmate in the Lehigh County prison on a probation violation charge and has a pending charge in Monroe County.

Daniel Christopher Fine,

23, of Slatington, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 23, 2018, by Lansford police at Patterson and Springgarden streets. A felony count of PWID was dropped in a plea deal with the DA.

Matika placed him on probation for a year on each count, running concurrently, and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Nicholas Thomas Decastro,

21, of Reynoldsville, Jefferson County, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Jan. 13, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge along I-80 in East Side Borough. Troopers found 10 “bricks” of heroin in the vehicle. A felony count of PWID was dropped in a plea deal with the DA.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Joshua Romanishan,

41, of Wind Gap, pleaded in three pending cases to two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count each of driving under suspending and hindering apprehension.

He was arrested on the first paraphernalia charge and suspension count of Nov. 12, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along Route 248 at State Road in Franklin Township. A possession of a controlled substance charge was dropped in a plea deal. The second paraphernalia charge occurred on April 18, 2018, filed by Lansford police for an incident along East Ridge Street. The hindering charge occurred on Oct. 24, 2017, in Lansford in the area of the Family Dollar Store along East Patterson Street. In that case felony counts of retail theft, criminal attempt and criminal conspiracy were dropped in a plea deal with the DA.

Sentencing was deferred.

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