A Palmerton man pleaded guilty on Monday in Carbon County court to a charge of simple assault.

He was one of eight defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Lehighton incident

David Dopsovic,

51, admitted assaulting his then girlfriend on July 25 at a residence along North First Street in Lehighton.

Police responded to the residence to a report of an unwanted man. Police found Dopsovic inside the home, intoxicated and in possession of a firearm. He had threatened to kill himself, police indicated in their report.

Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Ann Dyrda Hatton said the victim, now ex-girlfriend, approved of the plea deal in which a charge of terroristic threats was dropped. The victim was present for the proceeding and told the court she didn’t want Dopsovic to get jail time but that he get help he needs for mental health issues.

Serfass sentenced him to time-served, (35 days) to one day less 24 months in person and ordered he get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, attend and successfully complete a anger management course and have no contact with the victim.

It was noted a temporary protection from abuse order is in place.

Other pleas

Tammy Williams,

53, of Whitehall, pleaded to one count of resisting arrest.

She was arrested by the sheriff’s department for an incident at the office of the adult probation at the courthouse. She was at the courthouse with her son when he was being taken into custody on an outstanding warrant. She interfered with in the serving of the warrant.

Serfass placed her on probation for two years and ordered her to get a mental health evaluation and render 100 hours of community service.

Sara Jane Fink,

38, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of retail theft. She was arrested on March 13 by Mahoning Township police at the Walmart store. A charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal with the DAs office.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a mental health evaluation, supply a DNA sample and render 50 hours of community service.

Lewis Lloyd Searfoss,

46, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. In exchange for the plea a felony 2 count of contraband into the prison was dropped by the DA’s office.

He was arrested on Jan. 16, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge when he was brought to the county prison on a warrant and found with illegal substances.

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

Searfoss is currently an inmate in the county prison. In plea was done via video from the jail.

Amanda Sue Doyne,

31, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of disorderly conduct, as a summary offense, in exchange for charges of hindering apprehension and obstruction in the administration of law being dropped in a plea deal with the DAs office.

She was arrested on July 7, 2019, by Lansford police for an incident at a East Abbott Street residence where police attempted to serve a warrant on a relative of the defendant.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

Barry Phillips,

41, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of harassment. He was arrested on Aug. 25, 2018, by Jim Thorpe police for an incident along School Street.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

Angelo Frank Becker,

34, of Coplay, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. He was arrested on May 31, 2019, by Lehighton police in the 300 block of South Third Street. He was stopped by police for a equipment violation and became unruly.

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

Thomas F. St. James Jr.,

45, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. He was arrested on Feb. 20, 2019, by Lehighton police for an incident along South Fourth Street with a female victim. A simple assault charge was dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service.

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