Two criminal trials ended with not guilty verdicts for the defendants Tuesday in Carbon County court.

Found not guilty were Christopher Michael Skelton, 41, of Palmerton, who had been charged with harassment - communication of lewd, threatening, etc. language, a misdemeanor 3; and Jennifer Schaeffer, 37, of Lehighton, who had been charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, both ungraded misdemeanors.

Palmerton incident

Skelton was charged by Palmerton police for an incident on June 11, 2020, involving a Nesquehoning resident.

David Leslie testified he was parked along a road in the borough texting a female friend when Skelton confronted him about being in the area and started using obscenities at him and threatened to beat him to death. He said he called 911 and later met with borough police officer Dane O’Brien and filed a complaint.

Skelton said he pulled next to Leslie’s vehicle because about a half-hour earlier he noticed the car parked along the road and the driver “slumped” over the wheel. He went home and later returned with his girlfriend to check on the man.

He admitted using some obscenities but only after Leslie had directed some at him. He denied making any kinds of threat to Leslie. He said he didn’t notify police because he did not have faith in the local police due to prior incidents. The girlfriend also testified that Leslie was the one who used obscenities first.

O’Brien testified he made a phone contact with Skelton about the incident and said the defendant immediately expressed “his displeasure with speaking” to him and the call ended shortly later.

Skelton was represented by attorney Arley L. Kemmerer and the commonwealth by Assistant District Attorney Brian B. Gazo.

Judge Joseph J. Matika presided.

The trial was conducted at the Jim Thorpe School District building on Center Street, which is being used for trials by the county due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Vehicle stop

Schaeffer was arrested on June 17, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop.

Her trial was held in courtroom one at the courthouse.

She was represented by attorney Eric Wiltrout while the commonwealth was represented by Assistant District Attorney Robert S. Frycklund.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II presided.