A former Carbon County resident was sentenced to a prison term on Tuesday in the county court after pleading guilty to a drug selling charge.

Joseph Gindhart Jr., 36, of Rehrersburg, Berks County, and formerly of Lansford, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. In another case he pleaded to a charge of possession of an offensive weapon.

Agents of the state Attorney General’s office and Summit Hill police arrested Gindhart as part of a drug-selling operation in Carbon County. Arrested with him were Marley C. Geusic, 30; and James McClain III, 50.

According deputy Attorney General Christie F. Bonesch, investigators used two confidential informants to make drug purchases from Gindhart and his associates. She said there were at least nine sales made to the CIs during the course of the investigation.

The weapons charge stems from a vehicle stop on Dec. 6, 2019, by Nesquehoning police along Route 93. Gindhart was a passenger in the vehicle and found in possession of a set of brass knuckles.

Court-appointed defense attorney Matthew G. Schnell said that Gindhart has turned his life around since his arrest.

After spending time in the county prison, Gindhart was furloughed to enter an inpatient rehabilitation program run by Teen Challenge. He said Gindhart was in the program for over 400 days.

He said after he completed the inpatient program he stayed with Teen Challenge’s internal program and now is employed by the Teen Challenge as a counselor.

On the drug charge President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II sentenced Gindhart to serve one day less 12 to one day less 24 months in the county prison, and on the weapon count serve three to one day less 24 months in jail, with the terms running concurrently.

Because of the time spent in the inpatient program, along with prison time, Gindhart will not serve any more prison time as he was given credit for a total of 543 days.

He was ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of over $1,000.