A Nesquehoning man admitted to a defiant trespass charge on Tuesday in Carbon County court and was immediately sentenced to a prison term.

He was one of seven defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Franklin incident

Scott Hinkle, 50, was arrested by Franklin Township police for an incident on April 27. Police responded to a residence along Red Hill Road for an unwanted person. Hinkle was on scene and on the property after previously being told multiple times to stay off the property. In exchange for the plea, a felony 3 charge of criminal trespass was dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

Hinkle is currently an inmate in the county prison and lists the prison’s address as his.

Matika sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in prison and ordered he render 25 hours of community service when paroled and have no contact with the victim or enter the property in question.

He was given credit for 70 days already served.

Three cases

Kenneth J. Kitts, 34, of Weatherly, entered pleas in three pending cases.

He pleaded to one count each of theft, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on the theft count on March 27 by state police at Hazleton for entering a property along Back Mountain Road in Banks Township, and removing two gas heaters. In exchange for the plea, felony counts of two burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property and theft were dropped. There is a co-defendant in the case.

The DUI occurred on March 1, 2021, filed by Weatherly police. The drug count was for an incident on Dec. 4, 2021, also filed by Weatherly police following a vehicle stop.

Sentencing was deferred because of a question concerning restitution due in the theft case.

Other pleas

Joseph Raymond Milnes Sr., 68, who said he was homeless and currently an inmate in the county prison, pleaded to one count of unsworn falsification to authorities. In exchange for the plea two felony counts of failure to comply with registration of sexual offender requirements and verify address or photographed as required were dropped in a plea deal with the DA.

He was charged by Weatherly police for violating the conditions of Megan’s Law after his conviction of sexual offenses. The charge was added to the original complaint.

Matika sentenced him to time-served (195 days) to 23 months in prison and ordered he render 50 hours of community service. Before being released from prison he must verify where he will be residing and that must be approved by the adult probation office.

Amy M. Lewis, 43, of Edwardsville, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of impersonating a public servant. She was charged by state police at Fern Ridge for an incident on Jan. 24, 2021, at the Mountain Laurel Resort. She represented herself as a state liquor control agent.

Because of her prior criminal record she is facing a prison term. Sentencing was deferred so she could apply for the house arrest program.

Kelliann Bassetti, 58, of Summit Hill, pleaded to a summary offense of harassment. A charge of simple assault was dropped in a plea deal.

She was arrested on Aug. 24, 2021, at the Madison Inn along Route 534 in Kidder Township. Township police responded to the inn for a report of an altercation. The police report stated that Bassetti was involved in a disturbance with another family staying at the inn.

Matika imposed a fine of $150 and costs.

Chance M. Whiteman, 22, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of possession of a prohibited offensive weapon - brass knuckles. He was arrested on April 4 by Palmerton police at Delaware Avenue and Mauch Chunk Road following a traffic stop.

He is currently an inmate in the county prison and completed serving a probation violation sentence on Monday.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and supply a DNA sample.

Jacob W. Bauman, 33, of Beaver Meadows, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct. In exchange for the plea, charges of flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest and false identification to law enforcement were dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on March 14 by Beaver Meadows police for an incident along Broad Street where he was operating an all-terrain vehicle which was not allowed. When police tried to stop him he fled.

Matika sentenced him to serve 32 to 64 days in jail with credit for 64 already served and paroled him.

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