A Kunkletown man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Monday morning to assault and other counts related to an attempted break-in.

He was one of five defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Towamensing incident

Richard Allen Getz,

52, pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated assault, a felony 2, escape, felony 3, resisting arrest, misdemeanor 2, and summary offense of criminal trespass. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office dropped a felony 1 count of criminal attempt.

Getz was arrested on Oct. 9, 2019, when state police were dispatched to the residence in the area of 1700 Lower Smith Gap Road in Towamensing Township, for a report of a suspicious vehicle and a man at the residence. The victim told police the suspicious person was pulling on several doorknobs.

Police said they later identified the man as Getz, who was taken into custody after a brief struggle with troopers.

Sentencing was deferred and Matika ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Other pleas

Jeffrey R. Liedke,

48, of Canadensis, pleaded to one count each of harassment and drivers required to a licensed, both summaries. In exchange for the plea a simple assault charge was dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Nov. 28, 2018, by Kidder Township police who responded to Birch Street, Lake Harmony, for a reported domestic incident involving Liedke and his wife.

On the two counts Matika imposed fines totaling $350.

Danielle Blair,

47, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of persistent disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and a summary offense of public drunkenness. A charge of terroristic threats was dropped in a plea deal.

She was arrested on May 16 by Palmerton police in the 500 block of Lehigh Avenue, where police responded to a report of a disturbance.

Matika placed her on probation for six months and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render 25 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

On the summary offense she was sentenced to time-served, five to 11 days in jail.

Travis James Husar,

32, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense. In exchange for the plea a felony 1 count of aggravated assault was dropped.

He was arrested on Nov. 30, 2019, by Palmerton police for an incident involving his girlfriend. It was noted the victim agreed to the plea agreement and the dropping of the felony count.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Anthony T. Heffelfinger,

44, of Coaldale, pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly conduct, as a summary offense. In exchange for the plea the DA’s office dropped two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

He was arrested on March 11, 2018, by Lansford police along Ridge Street.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

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