A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term on Tuesday in the county court after pleading guilty to a drug dealing charge.

He was one of six defendants in pending drug-related cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Drug sale

Mitchell Andrew Peters, 24, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was arrested on June 3, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge after being involved in a drug sale. Troopers said Peters went to the Hazleton area to buy drugs and then returned to Carbon County to sell them.

In May 2020 Peters was sentenced by Serfass to serve two to four years in a state prison on other drug charges. He is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Chester. He told the court his minimum is up in April and he is scheduled for parole.

Serfass sentenced him to serve 18 to 36 months on the new drug count. The term runs concurrent with his present sentence. After his minimum is served in April, he will have to serve the remainder of the new sentence, which will be about 16 months. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

Other cases

Tyler Thomas Recica, 31, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on June 12, 2020, by Lehighton police. In a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office, a charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered him to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Justin Teese, 37, of Coplay, Lehigh County, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on July 29, 2020, by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop. He was a passenger in the vehicle.

His plea was made via video conference from the county prison, where he is an inmate on a detainer filed by officials in Wayne County.

Serfass sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in prison and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service when paroled.

Joseph Nemeth, 21, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Jan. 28, 2020, by Jim Thorpe police following a traffic stop. He was a passenger in the vehicle and had an active warrant for his arrest. While being taken into custody, he was found with methamphetamine.

Serfass placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Charles King, 40, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 7, 2019, by state police at Lehighton, following a traffic stop. He had a warrant for his arrest. While taking him into custody the paraphernalia was found.

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

He also pleaded to a charge of driving under suspension and was fined $500.

Melissa Jane Wilcox, 52, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Jan. 19, 2020, by Summit Hill police following a traffic stop.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

She also pleaded to driving under suspension and was fined $200.

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