A Northampton man entered a guilty plea on Thursday in Carbon County court to a charge of aggravated assault by vehicle, a felony.

He was one of nine defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Speeding

Kyle Robert Hildebrant, 23, who formerly listed a Lower Towamensing Township address, was arrested on Feb. 11, 2020, by state police at Lehighton. He was speeding when troopers attempted to stop him in Lower Towamensing Township. He continued at a high rate of speed, passing vehicle and eventually colliding head-on into another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle sustained serious injuries. Tested, Hildebrant had a 0.07 BAC.

Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office prepare a presentence investigation report.

Assaults girlfriend

Jeffrey Wayne Gerhard, 61, of Weatherly, pleaded guilty to one count each of simple assault and a summary offense of harassment.

He was arrested on Jan. 29 at his home by borough police for assaulting his live-in girlfriend.

Gerhard admitted to an alcohol abuse problem but told the court he had since addressed it by not drinking and getting professional help. The victim was present with him and verified he was getting help.

Matika sentenced him on the assault count to time-served (30 days) to one year and ordered he render 25 hours of community service, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment and supply a DNA sample. On the harassment charge he was sentenced to serve 32 to 63 days concurrent with the assault count and paroled.

Other pleas

Alicia Silfies, 37, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of persistent disorderly conduct and criminal trespass for an incident on Feb. 16. Palmerton police responded to a residence along Lafayette Avenue for a report of an unwanted person, who was Silfies. Methamphetamine was also found, police said.

Silfies admitted to mental health issues and spent time in an inpatient facility since the incident.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

On the trespass count she was sentenced to serve seven to 14 days in jail with credit for 14 days already served and paroled.

Michael Colin Settle, 33, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of possession of an instrument of crime. He was arrested on Jan. 22 by Kidder Township police along Route 534. In a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office a felony count of burglary was dropped.

He was sentenced to serve six to 23 months in prison with credit for 90 days. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, render 50 hours of community service when paroled and supply a DNA sample.

His plea was entered via video from the county jail where he is being held on the charges.

Joseph Michael Knauss, 37, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of firearms not to be carried without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Nov. 25, 2020, on following a traffic stop along Route 248 in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton. A 9 mm pistol and methamphetamine were found in the vehicle.

He was placed on probation for a year on each count with the terms running concurrent and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and supply a DNA sample.

On a summary offense of driving without a license he was fined $200.

William John Hetherington, 28, of Weatherly, pleaded in two pending cases to one count each of simple assault and flight to avoid apprehension.

The assault occurred on Jan. 2, 2018, in Packer Township filed by state police at Hazleton. He was accused of assaulting his mother. The flight count occurred Sept. 6, 2019, at his Weatherly address when he fled when sheriff deputies attempted to serve a warrant on him.

Matika placed him on probation for a year on each count, with the terms running concurrently, and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, render 50 hours of community service and supply a DNA sample.

Jimmy Lee Ross II, 44, of Carrollton, Virginia, and formerly of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense, with a simple assault count dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Jan. 3 by Kidder Township police following a domestic incident at the Holiday Pocono development involving a female victim.

He was sentenced to serve 27 to 55 days in jail with credit for 55 already served and paroled. His plea was entered by Zoom from his home.

Cassandra Marie Stevens, 23, of Slatington, pleaded to one count of disorderly conduct, as a summary offense. She was arrested on March 19, 2020, by state police at Lehighton, along Forest Inn Road in Lower Towamensing Township.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Clayton William Berger Jr., 33, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of flight to avoid apprehension for an incident on Feb. 4, 2020, in Palmerton. In a plea deal a simple assault count was dropped.

Borough police responded to a domestic incident at a residence along Lehigh Avenue involving a female victim.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service, attend and successfully complete an anger management course and supply a DNA sample.

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