A Carbon County man, currently serving a prison term on a drug-related charge, entered a guilty plea to another drug count on Monday in the county court and was sentenced to a prison term. He was one of seven defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Adam J. Schaeffer, 33, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested on Feb. 7 by Lehighton police following a traffic stop.

Schaeffer is currently serving a nine to one day less 24 month prison term on a charge of criminal use of a communication device. He was arrested on that charge on May 27, 2020, by Nesquehoning police who picked him up on a warrant. While taking him into custody police seized his cellphone. Police obtained a search warrant for the phone and found multiple calls arranging drug sales.

After he was place in prison on that charge he was furloughed to the Salvation Army drug treatment program. He was on a privilege furlough from the program for a weekend when he was served with a warrant issued in Schuylkill County. He said the privilege furlough was granted to him to see his children. He said he was released on a Friday and returned to the program on Sunday. A letter from the Salvation Army indicated Schaeffer was doing well in the program and would be welcomed back once he clears up the pending program in Schuylkill County.

Serfass sentenced him to serve nine to one day less 24 months in prison, concurrent with his prior sentence. He was also ordered to render 100 hours of community service when paroled, pay court costs of over $1,000 and zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use.

Other pleas

Brian Myers, 56, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded in two pending cases to one count each of criminal trespass, a felony 3, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

He was arrested on the trespass charge on Nov. 2, 2021, by Palmerton police for entry to a residence along Lafayette Avenue. In a plea deal, a felony 2 count of burglary was dropped.

The drug arrest occurred on Dec. 12, 2021, by Jim Thorpe police along Centre Avenue when police served an warrant. Police indicated methamphetamine was found.

Sentencing was deferred and Serfass ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 27 at 9 a.m.

Whittney Hibbler, 33, of Lebanon, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on Feb. 4, 2021, by state police at Lehighton following a traffic stop along Route 443 in Lehighton. She was a passenger in the vehicle and found with smoking devices used to smoke methamphetamine.

Serfass sentenced her to time-served (five days) to 12 months in jail and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, pay court costs of over $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole.

Thomas W. Grande, 54, of Manasquan, New Jersey, pleaded to one count of simple assault. He was arrested on July 11, 2019, when state police at Fern Ridge were called to the Skirmish Paintball located at 211 N. Meckesville Road, in Penn Forest Township, for a report of an assault. On scene troopers said they learned that Grande got into an argument with a female at the site and struck her in the face multiple times. There is a co-defendant in the case.

Sentencing was deferred as there is a question concerning restitution for damages.

Brett Allen Mackes, 23, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of recklessly endangering another person. A felony 3 count of flight to avoid apprehension was dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested on Aug. 31, 2020, by Lehighton police who attempted to stop him along North Third Street for speeding. He led officers on a high-speed chase before finally stopping. The police report indicated he ran several stop signs and that there were numerous vehicles and pedestrians in the area where he led them on a chase.

Serfass placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered him to render 75 hours of community service, pay court costs of over $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation.

Brooke L. Heine Weiss,Chrystal Sue Johnson, 54, of Lehighton, entered pleas in two pending cases to one count each of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was arrested on the DUI charge on Sept. 6, 2019, by Lehighton police along Mahoning Street. Heroin was found, it was noted. The drug arrest occurred on Feb. 6, 2021, filed by Nesquehoning police after they responded to the 1100 block of East Catawissa Street for a disturbance. A charge of possession of a controlled substance - heroin was dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

Sentencing was deferred so she can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation for the DUI charge.