An Albrightsville man entered a guilty plea to driving under the influence of a controlled substance and driving while under suspension - DUI related, on Tuesday in Carbon County court.

Charles Mattucci, 52, entered the plea in courtroom 2 on the third floor of the courthouse in Jim Thorpe. As he was entering his plea there was a juror panel of about 50 people waiting in courtroom one to be selected to hear his case. That panel was then used for selection of another criminal trial.

Mattucci was arrested on Jan. 6 along Fireline Road in Lower Towamensing Township, by state police at Lehighton. He was initially stopped for an equipment violation.

He showed signs of impairment and was placed under arrest. He refused a test.

President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II accepted the plea but deferred sentencing. He told Mattucci under DUI statute guidelines, as a third offense, the DUI charge is rated a felony 3; and because the suspension count was at least his second or more, that was elevated to a misdemeanor 3 from a summary offense. Under guidelines, he faces one to two years in prison for DUI and six to 12 months for the suspension charge.

Mattucci has to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and is going to apply for the house arrest program, if eligible.

He is currently an inmate in the county prison.