A total of seven defendants, who previously entered guilty pleas to driving under the influence and related charges, were sentenced Tuesday in Carbon County court by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Pedestrian struck

Bret A. Badellino, 30, of Orefield, Lehigh County, was sentenced to serve 90 days to five years in prison.

He was arrested on Oct. 11, 2019, by Lehighton police after he was involved in an incident in which a pedestrian was struck. He pleaded to DUI of a controlled substance.

The victim was present and told the court a year after the incident he is still receiving treatment for his injuries. He explained all the therapy he has received to date and continues to receive. It was indicate a civil suit may be filed in the matter.

Nanovic rejected a request that Badellino serve the sentence in the Restricted Probation Program - house arrest.

In addition to the prison term, Badellino was ordered to pay a fine of $1,500, license suspended for 18 months, make total restitution of $576.95, supply a DNA sample and get a mental health evaluation.

He was given credit for 15 days already served. He will begin serving the remaining 52 days on Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. and serve it on consecutive two-day weekends.

Child in vehicle

Carly Lisbeth Sandler, 32, of Tamaqua, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail on a charge of recklessly endangering another person, and probation for five years on a DUI charge. The terms run concurrently.

She was arrested on Jan. 22 by Jim Thorpe police along West 13th Street in the area of the Friends of Animals shelter. A felony count of endangering the welfare of a child dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office. Her young son was in the vehicle at the time of the stop.

Her attorney, Matthew J. Rapa, argued for a probationary sentence on both counts stating she was experiencing mental health issues at the time of the incident and was on medications, which were still being adjusted by her physician.

Nanovic rejected the request, stating Sandler was dealing with the issues at least a month or more prior to the incident. He said there were “a lot of red flags” concerning Sandler’s mental health issues that were not addressed. He also noted she refused a blood test. He said his biggest concern was she put her young son in danger.

In addition to the prison term, Sandler was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for 18 months, get a mental health evaluation, supply a DNA sample and render 100 hours of community service.

She will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6.

Other cases

James John Sobolewski, 39, of Hazleton, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and license suspended for a year. On a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia he was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to the DUI count. Nanovic also imposed zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

He was arrested on April 5 by Weatherly police along Main Street. He refused a test.

He was given credit for four days already spent in jail on the charges and paroled.

Justin J. Singleton, 30, of Drexel Hill, Delaware County, was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail, pay a fine of $300 and license suspended for a year.

He was arrested on Jan. 21 by state police at Pocono along the turnpike in Kidder Township. A test revealed a 0.23 BAC.

He will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Balan Costa, 42, of Hazleton, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and license suspended for a year.

He was arrested on Feb. 8, 2019, by Weatherly police along Plane Street.

He will begin the jail term at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30.

Michael William Sandiford, 34, of Hazleton, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and license suspended for a year.

He was arrested on July 19, 2019, by Lehighton police for DUI of a controlled substance.

He will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Drug case

Timothy Wayne Hottenstein, 55, of Lansford, was placed on probation for a year on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on Jan. 14 when police responded to his apartment to a report of juvenile males frequently entering the apartment when they were not allowed to be there.

He was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while or parole or probation and follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.