Two more defendants in the drug dealing case of a former Lansford councilman and his girlfriend recently entered guilty pleas to drug-related charges and were sentenced.

They were among a total of 12 defendants in pending criminal cases to enter guilty pleas in Carbon County court before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II. Two others were placed in a special probation program.

Two of six

Michael Vincent Crowell, 62, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Kimberly Ann Kokinda,

48, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Crowell and Kokinda were among six charged with supplying prescription pills including oxycodone to Matthew Walsh, a former Lansford councilman, and his girlfriend, Danielle Grochowski. The pills were prescribed to the defendants for legitimate reasons, but the state attorney general’s office alleged that they illegally sold them to Walsh and Grochowski. Both were arrested by agents of the state attorney general’s office.

Both Walsh and Grochowski have pleaded guilty to drug charges and are awaiting sentencing.

Also arrested with the two were Janet Mary Martino, Ellen Lee Crowell, Eileen Patricia Hargett and Nina Renee Hofstetter.

Nanovic sentenced Crowell to serve six to 14 months in the county prison and get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.

He began the jail term on Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. and will serve it on consecutive weekends of Friday to Monday.

Kokinda was placed on probation for four years and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and supply a DNA sample.

Other cases

David Benitez,

36, of McAdoo, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Oct. 11, 2019, by Nesquehoning police following a traffic stop along Route 209.

He was sentenced to serve one to 24 months in the county prison and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

He began the jail term on Aug. 24 at noon. He received three days credit for time already served.

Raisa R. Brown,

51, of Newton, New Jersey, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on Dec. 7, 2019, by state police at Lehighton at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township.

She was placed on probation for 364 days consecutive with another sentence she is currently serving and must submit a DNA sample.

Jaclyn Ann Bennett,

39, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on March 1, 2018, by state police at Lehighton at the Country Junction, Route 209, in Towamensing Township.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to supply a DNA sample.

Raul Rivera,

34, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of obstruction administration of law. He was charged by Jim Thorpe police for an incident on Feb. 10 at the Turkey Hill parking lot along Susquehanna Street.

He was placed on probation for two years and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and undergo random testing.

Jeffrey M. Dennis,

39, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of loitering or prowling at night with a charge of stalking dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested on April 6, 2018, by Jim Thorpe police for an incident along South Street involving his wife as the victim

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Tara Ann O’Brian,

49, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on March 8 by Mahoning Township police at the Walmart store.

She was placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Justin Schuch,

25, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of simple assault. He was arrested on July 5 by Summit Hill police for a domestic incident at a residence along West Walters Street involving a female victim.

He was placed on probation for 24 months and ordered to get a mental health evaluation, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and relinquish any and all firearms in his possession within 24 hours to the sheriff’s department.

James Washington,

31, of Summit Hill, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct. He was arrested on April 9, 2019, by Lansford police along Bertsch Street. A misdemeanor count of persistent disorderly conduct was dropped in a plea deal.

Nanovic imposed a fine of $300.

Vanessa Ann Bigg-Carr,

29, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of simple assault. She was arrested on Oct. 24, 2018, by Nesquehoning police for an incident along West Railroad Street with a male victim.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, supply a DNA sample and relinquish all firearms within 24 hours to the sheriff’s department.

Lee Russ Fidler,

51, of Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Aug. 3, 2019, by Lansford police following a traffic stop along Patterson Street.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get both a drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and continue with current counseling program.

ARD placements

Two defendants were placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program for first-time offenders.

If a person successfully completes all conditions of the program, their record will be wiped clean. However, if they fail to complete it, or are revoked from it, then they would face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.

Placed were:

Jon Rodney Dougherty,

58, of Lehighton, was placed for a year on a charge of possession of an offensive prohibitive weapon, brass knuckles. He was arrested on Feb. 15 by Lehighton police following a vehicle stop along Route 443.

He was assessed $450 for the cost of the program and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment.

Christian Rocco Westpy,

22, of Summit Hill, was placed for six months on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on June 1 by Lansford police in the area of Bertsch and Springgarden streets.

He was assessed $450 and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

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