Two people pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Thursday to drunken driving charges in which infants were found in the vehicles at the time they were arrested.

The two were among a total of 12 in pending driving under the influence cases to enter a guilty plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Minors in vehicles

Adam J. Hluschak, 33, of Walnutport, was stopped by state police at Lehighton on Aug. 21, 2021, along Forest Inn Road in Towamensing Township. A test showed 0.18 BAC. Troopers noted an infant was in the back seat of the vehicle.

In a plea deal with the district attorney’s office a felony 3 count of endangering the welfare of a child was dropped.

Nanovic noted since the charge involves a juvenile in the vehicle the rating of the DUI count was upgraded to a misdemeanor 1 from an ungraded misdemeanor which enhances the penalties involved.

A first offense, Hluschak was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300, render 100 hours of community service and supply a DNA sample.

Sabile B. Mehmeti, 38, of Tuscarora, Schuylkill County, was arrested on Sept. 17, 2018, by Nesquehoning police along Ridge Street for DUI of a controlled substance. Police said there was a minor child in the vehicle at the time.

In a plea deal with the DA’s office a charge of recklessly endangering another person were dropped. She was originally charged with eight counts.

Sentencing was deferred so Mehmeti can get a drug and alcohol evaluation and apply for the house arrest program.

Mehmeti is currently an inmate in the Schuylkill County prison and her plea was done via video from that prison.

Two cases

James L. Ruff, 44, of Palmerton, pleaded guilty in two pending cases to two counts of DUI. He was arrested on the first count on June 12, 2021, along Route 248 in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton, who stopped him for speeding, 68 mph in a 55 zone.

The second arrest occurred on Aug. 24, 2021, also by Lehighton troopers along Hemlock Street in Franklin Township. Both were for DUI of a controlled substance.

Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and apply for the house arrest program.

Justin David Hahn, 22, of Palmerton, entered pleas in two pending cases to one count each of DUI and a summary offense of disorderly conduct.

The DUI occurred on July 9, 2021, along Interchange Road in Franklin Township filed by state police at Lehighton for DUI of a controlled substance.

The second arrest occurred on June 7, 2021, along Stagecoach Road East in Towamensing Township. Police were called for a disturbance at a residence in the area and found Hahn the cause of the disturbance. The conduct charge was added to the original complaint which contained drug-related charges.

On the DUI, Nanovic sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

On the summary charge he was fined $300 and costs.

He will begin serving the jail term at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25.

Crystal Steidinger,Dylan John Dotter, 25, of Palmerton, was arrested on May 29, 2021, by state police at Lehighton along Lizard Creek Road in Bowmanstown, at a checkpoint operation. He was charged with DUI of a controlled substance. Heroin was found, troopers noted.

He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000 and license suspended for a year.

He will begin the jail term at 5 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Edward James Gallagher, 62, of Lehighton, was arrested on July 16, 2021, by state police at Lehighton along Interchange Road in Franklin Township. A test revealed a 0.19 BAC.

A first offense, he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300.

Judith Renee Jones, 55, of State College, was arrested on July 17, 2021, along Route 903 in Penn Forest Township. She refused a test.

A first offense for sentencing purposes, she was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300.

Victor M. McKillop, 60, of Elmont, New York, was arrested on Sept. 4, 2021, along Route 1003, by Kidder Township police. He refused a test.

Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for the house arrest program.

David M. Roberts, 53, of Slatington, was arrested on Feb. 12, 2021, by state police at Lehighton along Delaware Avenue in Palmerton.

Sentencing was deferred so he can apply for the house arrest program.

Dennis C. Ezenwaka, 28, of Upper Marlaro, Maryland, was arrested on Sept. 26, 2020, by Lehighton police in the parking lot of the Gypsy Hill Gardens apartments. He refused a test.

A first offense, he was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300.

Brian A. Stepp, 37, of Emerald, Lehigh County, was arrested on Oct. 17, 2020, by state police at Lehighton along Route 443 in Lehighton.

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

Sentencing

Carlos Ivan Marquez, 29, of Lansford, was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, pay a fine of $1,000, license suspended for a year and get a mental health evaluation. He previously pleaded to the charge.

He was arrested on Nov. 14, 2021, by Lansford police who responded to a reported disturbance. Marquez was observed fleeing the scene in a vehicle at a high rate of speed. A chase ensued and he was eventually stopped.

In a plea deal charges of fleeing police and resisting arrest for dropped.

He also pleaded to summary offenses of three stop sign violations, reckless driving and careless driving. On the summary offenses he was fined a total of $275 and costs.

He was given credit for three days already spent in jail on the charges and paroled.

Marquez is currently an inmate in the county prison on a state parole violation charge which is pending.

All the defendants sentenced must also pay court costs of over $1,000, a $50 per month supervision while on parole or probation and follow any recommendation of their drug and alcohol evaluation.