Fourteen defendants in pending criminal cases entered guilty pleas on Thursday before Judge Joseph J. Matika in Carbon County court:

Gun charge

• Frank Smith Canfield, 48, of Beaver Meadows, entered pleas in two pending cases to firearm not to be carried without a license and possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine. He was arrested on May 30, 2021, by Weatherly police following a traffic stop.

Police found a handgun in the vehicle that did not belong to him. It was later identified as being owned by his girlfriend. After being arraigned on the firearm count he was taken to the county prison where illegal substances were found on him. In a plea deal with the district attorney’s office a felony 2 count of contraband, controlled substance into the prison was dropped.

On the firearms count Matika sentenced him to time-served (270 days) to 23 months in prison and on the drug count one year probation with the terms running concurrently. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Other pleas

Shaina Marie Poshefko, 46, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of theft filed by Franklin Township police on Dec. 24, 2021. In exchange for the plea two felony counts of access device fraud and forgery were dropped in a plea deal.

Poshefko had entered the county’s drug treatment program but failed to finish it and was terminated from the program for violating conditions.

She told the court, “It’s been a very long journey.” She said the drug program didn’t work for her because she didn’t apply herself to it.

Matika told her, “I”m going to give you one last chance before a state sentence.”

He sentenced her to time-served (134 days) to 23 months in prison and ordered her to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, no contact with the victim and render 100 hours of community service.

• Todd David Radler, 58, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of receiving stolen property for an incident on May 13, 2021, filed by state police at Lehighton. A retail theft charge was dropped in a plea deal.

Matika noted that Radler has a history of retail theft arrests. His public defender, Attorney Eric Wiltrout, said his client has had mental health issues over the years.

Matika placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he render 75 hours of community service, supply a DNA sample, get a mental health evaluation and stay off the victim’s property.

• Deanna Marie Simonson, 41, an inmate at the county prison, pleaded to one count of theft as a misdemeanor 3. In exchange for the plea two felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass were dropped.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph D. Perilli, who prosecuted the case, said the felonies were dropped because when she entered the home in Lower Towamensing Township, she was homeless. Also, he said she was not the person who broke into the residence but was present and only took food and stayed in the home a short period of time.

She told the court she is still homeless but that the public defender’s office has arranged for her to go to a woman’s homeless shelter in Wilkes-Barre. She said she would be picked up by the people running the shelter after her sentence.

Matika sentenced her to one year probation and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service, stay off the property where she was caught and must reside in the shelter until she is formally released.

• Jennifer L. Haberle, 40, of Mahanoy City, pleaded to one count of theft. She was arrested on April 18, 2020, by state police at Hazleton for an incident in Tresckow.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service, make restitution of $735, have no contact with the victim or her property, supply a DNA sample and continue her mental health counseling.

• Richard McLaughlin, 50, of Bath, Northampton County, pleaded to one count of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested on June 8, 2019, by state police at Lehighton. Sentencing was deferred.

• Ashley Morgan Thomas, 35, of Palmerton, pleaded to four summary offenses in exchange for a DUI charge being dropped. She was arrested on May 22 by state police at Hazleton.

She pleaded to motor vehicle code violations of careless driving, loud muffler and improper sunscreening and non-traffic count of disorderly conduct.

Matika imposed total fines of $225 and costs.

• Jenny May Haydt, 20, of Girardville, Schuylkill County, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested on April 15, 2019, by state police at Lehighton, following a traffic stop.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

• Regina Marie Starling, 60, of Weatherly, pleaded to one count of DUI. She was arrested on Nov. 30, 2021, by Weatherly police for DUI of alcohol.

A first offense, she was placed on probation for six months and ordered to pay a fine of $300 and render 25 hours of community service.

• Linette Ann Lesher, 43, of Palmerton, pleaded to a summary offense of disorderly conduct. In exchange for the plea two drug counts, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, were dropped in a plea deal

She was arrested on Nov. 3, 2020, by state police at Lehighton.

Matika imposed a fine of $150 and costs.

• Courtney Brooke Hoffert, 33, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of driving while license suspended - DUI related. She was originally charged with seven counts including two DUIs, which were dropped in a plea deal.

She was arrested on Jan. 17, 2021, by state police at Lehighton.

Matika sentenced her to serve 30 to 60 days in jail and pay a fine of $500. She must serve the full 60 days. She is an inmate in the county prison on a parole violation petition.

• Alton Colby Eidem, 27, of Lehighton, pleaded to three summary offenses in exchange for a DUI charge being dropped. He pleaded to careless driving, disregard of traffic lane and driving the wrong way. He was arrested on May 29, 2021, by state police at Lehighton.

Matika imposed a total of $75 in fines and costs.

• Skye Ulrich, 33, of Pottsville, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on Sept. 5, 2021, by state police at Lehighton. She is an inmate in the Schuylkill County prison.

Matika sentenced her to serve five to 10 days in jail and must serve the full 10 days.

• Jose A. Santopinales, 28, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Sept. 5, 2021, by state police at Lehighton.

On the paraphernalia charge he was placed on probation for a year and ordered the render 25 hours of community service and on the marijuana count probation for 30 days, with the terms running concurrently.

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

ARD

• Daphne Jane Kline, 31, of New Tripoli, was placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program for a year on a DUI of a controlled substance count. She was arrested on July 20, 2020, by state police at Lehighton.

She was ordered to render 50 hours of community service, pay court costs of over $1,000, pay a $50 supervision fee while in the program and her license was suspended for 60 days.

If she successfully completes the program her record will be wiped clean. If not, she would face trial on all pending charges. A person does not admit guilt in entering the program.