A Lehighton man admitted to charges of strangulation and simple assault in Carbon County court on Monday.

He was one of seven defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Lehighton incident

Norbyn Manuel Valle, 24, was arrested on Nov. 13, 2021, at a residence in the 300 block of South First Street. Police responded to a report of a domestic assault with a female being choked.

Police arrived on scene and were told by the female victim that her boyfriend, Valle, had choked her and struck her while her daughter was present.

In a plea deal with the district attorney’s office, the strangulation charge was reduced from a felony 2 to a misdemeanor 2.

The victim told the court her daughter witnessed the entire incident and that she almost passed out while being choked by Valle, who is the father of the young girl.

Valle has been in jail since the day of the incident.

On the strangulation charge, Serfass sentenced Valle to serve six to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered him to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, have no contact with the victim or the young girl, and render a total of 200 hours of community service.

Valle asked about the no contact concerning the young girl, his daughter, and Serfass said his order means no contact.

On the assault count he was placed on probation for 24 months, consecutive to the first count.

He was given credit for 92 days already served.

Other pleas

Brandon Chuma, 23, of Summit Hill, pleaded to five counts of possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested on Aug. 21, 2020, by Lehighton police.

Police were dispatched to the Mahoning Inn along Route 443 for a welfare check. Found in a room at the inn was Chuma and various drug items including heroin and fentanyl.

On the first count Serfass sentenced Chuma to time-served (two days to six months in jail).

On the remaining four counts he was placed on probation six months on each count with the terms running consecutive to each other. He was also ordered to render a total of 125 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Sherree Salome Rex, 66, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana. In a plea deal a charge of endangering the welfare of a child was dropped.

She was arrested following a traffic stop on May 15, 2019, along Bridge Street in Lehighton by state police at Lehighton. Marijuana was found in her purse and methamphetamine was found in the vehicle, troopers said.

On the first count she was sentenced to time-served, 30 days, to 12 months in prison and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

On the small amount charge she was fined $300.

Anthony J. Naimon III, 53, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense. In exchange for the plea a felony 2 count of strangulation and a misdemeanor 2 simple assault charges were dropped.

He was arrested on Jan. 13, 2019, by Jim Thorpe police for an incident in the 500 block of North Street, during a domestic incident.

He was fined $300. It was noted the female victim agreed to the plea deal.

Gregory Alan Seip, 50, of Stroudsburg, pleaded to one count of DUI. He was arrested on Jan. 23, 2021, by state police at Lehighton along Route 248 for DUI of a controlled substance. He refused a test.

Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.

He is currently an inmate in the Northampton County prison on other charges.

Laura Simmons, 32, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of hindering apprehension. She was arrested on Sept. 2, 2021, at her residence. Sheriff deputies went to the residence to serve a warrant on a Dante Matos, 33. Authorities received information that Matos was at that address. He and Simmons have a relationship. She denied he was there but the deputies found him hiding in the basement.

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

Trevor Garrison Sommerfield, 39, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of dog not validly registered under the act.

He was cited by a state dog warden for not properly registering a dog he owns which was previously adjudicated a dangerous dog.

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

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