A Lansford woman must spend at least 90 days in jail and five years on probation after being sentenced Monday in the Carbon County court for her part in a prescription selling scheme run by a former Lansford councilman.

Eileen Patricia Hargett, 68, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve 60 months in the Restriction Conditions of Probation program (house arrest), but must first serve 90 days in prison.

Serfass rejected a request by defense counsel, attorney Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, to serve the entire sentence on house arrest.

Serfass said he considered the many health issues that Hargett has, and read all the medical reports, but added that “the seriousness of the charge warrants a prison term.” He added that she can serve the time on consecutive two-day weekends, which would give the prison staff a better opportunity to handle the medication she takes. He added he doesn’t normally allow a defendant to serve a weekend sentence that is three months or more, but because of the health issues he would give Hargett the chance.

She previously pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

She was one of six charged by the attorney general’s office 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 attorney general’s office said that they illegally sold them to Walsh and Grochowski.

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

Arrested with Hargett were Janet Mary Martino, Ellen Lee Crowell, Michael Vincent Crowell, Nina Renee Hofstetter and Kimberly Ann Kokinda.

Walsh and Grochowski were arrested in May 2019 following a raid at their Lansford home and Walsh’s business, Walsh Precious Metals.

Walsh resigned from his position on council in October 2019.

At the time of the arrest of the six, the AG office said that Walsh and Grochowski cooperated in the investigation that led to the charges being filed.

Mottola told the court that Hargett cooperated with authorities when confronted about her selling the drugs of Walsh. He said Walsh was a friend of Hargett’s and got pulled into the sales.

He said she takes 27 different medications for her many health issues.

Hargett told Serfass, “I’m sorry I did wrong.” She said she stays home most of the time and helps watch a grandchild.

After serving the 90 days in jail, Hargett will spend 275 days on electronic monitoring, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee and supply a DNA sample.

She will begin the jail term on Friday at 9 a.m.