A Palmerton man admitted stealing a vehicle when the owner left the keys in the vehicle while he went into a store in Carbon County court.

He was one of five defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea on Friday before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Lehighton incident

Robert Werner, 38, pleaded to one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor 2. In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office dropped two felony counts of theft and receiving stolen property.

Werner was arrested by Lehighton police for an incident on Aug. 25. The victim went into the Dollar General Store on North First Street and left the keys to his 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix in the ignition. The victim saw Werner taking the vehicle and immediately notified police, giving them a description of the man and vehicle information. Werner and the vehicle were located a time later.

Werner entered his plea via video from the county prison, where he is being held on other charges. He is also facing a state parole violation proceeding. Sentencing was deferred.

Prison incident

Jacob Alexander Bloss, 25, of Freeland, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count each of harassment, as a summary offense, and institutional vandalism, a misdemeanor 2, for an incident on Aug. 9, 2019, at the county prison, where he was an inmate at the time. In exchange for the plea, the DA’s office dropped the felony 3 count of escape.

Nesquehoning police were called to the prison when Bloss got into an altercation with a corrections officer. He was in lockdown and left his cell. The officer ordered him back into the cell and Bloss refused. He made contact with the officer and then damaged the cell door.

On the vandalism count, Nanovic placed him on probation for a year, consecutive with a term he is currently serving. On the harassment count he was fined $100.

Other pleas

Heather L. Ruff, 45, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct for an incident on March 22 filed by Nesquehoning police. In exchange for the plea the DA’s office dropped simple assault and resisting arrest counts. The assault count involved officer Timothy Wuttke of the borough police.

Police responded to a residence along East Mill Street to serve a mental health warrant on Ruff. She resisted police in the service of the warrant.

She told Nanovic, “I don’t remember,” when asked if the facts stated by the commonwealth were accurate. She admitted to mental health issues.

Nanovic placed her on probation for six months and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and must take all medications prescribed for her mental treatment.

Annette Marie Thamarus, 43, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct for an incident on Dec. 15, 2019.

Borough police responded to a domestic incident and found Thamarus outside the home, banging on doors and using profanities. She was taken into custody. She admitted to mental health issues. Police also said she was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Nanovic placed her on probation for a year and ordered she get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and imposed zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

DUI cases

Dawn L. Markley, 54, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving under the influence in two separate cases.

She was arrested for DUI on Aug. 12, 2018, along East Street by Lehighton police. The second arrest occurred on Sept. 20, 2018, also along East Street. In both cases she was charged with DUI of a controlled substance.

On the one case she is facing a mandatory one year in jail.

Sentencing was deferred so she can apply for placement in the house arrest program.

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