A Lycoming County man entered a guilty plea to a drug-dealing charge on Monday in Carbon County court.

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

Vehicle stop

Dawud Rifi Rice,

39, of Williamsport, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, heroin.

He was arrested on Sept. 28, 2016, following a traffic stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge.

Rice is currently an inmate in the Lycoming County prison in Williamsport on a drug-related charge. His plea hearing was done via video conference.

Matika told him, under state sentencing guidelines, he faces a minimum prison term of between 9 and 16 months, meaning it could be either a county or state sentence.

At the request of Rice’s attorney, the sentencing was deferred until Rice can address the Lycoming charges.

Other pleas

Mark Andrew Soltis,

56, of Hazle Township, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested by Weatherly police on June 14, 2015. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office dropped a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. There were 26 continuances in the case.

Matika sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison with credit for nine days already served. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 50 hours of community service.

He will begin serving the balance of his prison term at 7 p.m. on June 12 and serve it on consecutive two-day weekends.

James Todd Daugherty,

36, of Newburgh Heights, Ohio, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on April 11, 2018, following a traffic stop along I-80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge.

On the first count he was placed on probation for three years and on the second count one year with the terms running consecutively. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 100 hours of community service.

Richard Adler Ferrer,

25, of Tobyhanna, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. In exchange for the plea, three other paraphernalia charges were dropped. He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked for violating conditions.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and get a mental health evaluation. The term runs concurrent with a probation period he is serving in Monroe County.

Shane Dreher,

38, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with a count of possession of a controlled substance dropped in a plea deal. He was arrested on Nov. 16, 2019, by state police at Lehighton.

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

Joseph Edward Hughes,

29, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Aug. 18, 2019, by Kidder Township police. Felony counts of forgery and criminal attempt - forgery, were dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and render 50 hours of community service.

Brandon Thomas Hodge,

34, of Pittsburgh, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with a charge of possession of a controlled substance dropped in a plea deal. He was arrested on Aug. 18, 2019, by Kidder Township police.

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

He also pleaded to driving while his license was suspended or revoked. Matika imposed a fine of $200.

Richard Ross Ottman,

30, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana with a possession of a controlled substance charge dropped in a plea deal.

On the paraphernalia charge he was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

On the small amount count he was placed on probation for 30 days, concurrent with the first count.

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