Carbon County court resumed criminal court proceedings on Thursday, but it was not normal.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the court instituted certain restrictions and regulations in an attempt to keep within the guidelines set for the crisis and to maintain a regular court schedule.

Judge Joseph J. Matika presided over the proceedings in which the cases involved driving under the influence and related charges. The court hearings were staggered in that a group of defendants were scheduled for 9 a.m. with a second group at 10 a.m. and so on. All present in the courtroom had to practice social distancing and all had to wear protective masks.

Sentencings

Those appearing to be sentenced, after previously pleading guilty, were:

Michael P. Wallace,

36, of Whitehall, was arrested on Nov. 9, 2018, by state police at Lehighton along Spruce Road in Lower Towamensing Township. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and render 25 hours of community service. He will begin serving the prison term at 6 p.m. on May 21.

Christine E. McGarry,

44, of Drums, Luzerne County, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle without a interlock system on it in addition to the DUI count. She was stopped on Oct. 14, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge along Route 534 at Navajo Trail in Penn Forest Township. A test revealed a 0.17 BAC. At the time of the stop she was required to have an interlock system on her vehicle due to a prior DUI conviction.

On the DUI charge she was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail, pay a fine of $300 and one-year license suspension.

On the interlock charge she was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail followed by 11 months in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program - house arrest - with the first 60 days on electronic monitoring. She was also ordered to render a total of 50 hours of community service. The jail terms run concurrently.

She will begin the jail term on May 11 at 9 a.m. and serve it in three-day increments until the full 30 has been served.

Guilty pleas

The following entered guilty pleas.

Tyler Steven Bailer,

26, of Lehighton, was arrested on June 29, 2018, by Lehighton police. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked for violating conditions. Matika also sentenced him on a prior DUI arrest that occurred on Jan. 14, 2019, filed by state police at Lehighton, in which he had pleaded guilty.

On the plea DUI count Matika sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension. On the second charge he was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail followed by 59 months in the IPP with the first 60 days on electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1,500, another one-year suspension and render a total of 100 hours of community service. The jail terms run concurrently.

He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on May 13.

Kimberly Ann Whitehead,

31, of New Ringgold, was arrested on Sept. 30, 2018, by Nesquehoning police.

She was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.

She will begin the jail term at 10 a.m. on May 22.

Michael J. Kralik,

46, of Palmerton, was arrested on July 12, 2019, by Palmerton police.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, one year license suspension and render 25 hours of community service.

He will begin the jail term at 7 p.m. on May 15.

Russell Walters,

43, of Walnutport, was arrested on Jan. 27, 2019, by state police at Lehighton.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and render 25 hours of community service.

He will begin the jail term at 7 p.m. on May 15.

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