A former Carbon County woman, who stole over $28,000 from her employer, was given a probation sentence Tuesday in Carbon County court after entering a guilty plea to criminal charges.

She was one of eight defendants to enter a plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.Account managerAngela Marie Weir, 29, formerly of Nesquehoning and now residing in Steelton, Dauphin County, pleaded guilty to one count each of theft by deception and misapplication of trusted funds.She was charged by Nesquehoning police with stealing over $28,000 from Elk Lighting Inc., where she worked as an account manager.Nesquehoning police received information from Rush Township police in December 2011 about the theft of the funds. Elk Lighting has a place of business in the township but the information was turned over to Nesquehoning police because Weir lived in the borough at the time.The money was taken over a time span of December 2010 and December 2011. In a plea agreement with the district attorney's office a charge of false reports-falsely incriminating another, was dropped.That charge was also filed by Nesquehoning police in April 2013. The plea bargain also recommended a probation sentence be imposed.Defense attorney Paul Levy told the court his client spent six months in an inpatient program sponsored by the Salvation Army in Harrisburg for a drug problem.He said Weir was successful in completing the program and now works for the Salvation Army in the Harrisburg area.Matika placed Weir on probation for two years on each count, running the terms consecutively. He also ordered her to make restitution to Elk Lighting for $28,972.53, get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on drug and alcohol use, and render a total of 200 hours of community service.Other pleasOther defendants who entered guilty pleas included:Frank X. Allesch, 41, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of theft.He was arrested by Lansford police for taking a postal package on Nov. 6, 2013, from the front porch of a residence at 228 W. Front St., which contained a cell phone. He was later questioned about it and admitted taking the phone. The phone was recovered.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered him to render 50 hours of community service.Mel S. Gerber, 41, of Tamaqua R.D., pleaded to one count of criminal trespass. In a plea bargain a charge of burglary was dropped.He was arrested by Lansford police for an incident at 304 E. Bertsch St., on Sept. 8, 2012. There were three co-defendants in the case. The co-defendants have already gone through the system.Matika placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered him to supply a DNA sample, make restitution of $948.44, his share of the total value of items taken, render 75 hours of community service, and have no contact with the victim, Bonnie Vasiliou of Summit Hill, owner of the Lansford property.Nicole A. Park, 33, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of retail theft.She admitted removing items from the Wal-Mart store in Mahoning Township on Nov. 23, 2013, without paying for them.She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to make restitution of $105.94, her share as there is a co-defendant; render 50 hours of community service; and she cannot enter the store. The term runs consecutive to a probation violation sentence she is currently serving.Christopher J. Miller, 26, of Weatherly, pleaded to two counts of theft by deception and one count of access device fraud and identity theft.He was arrested by Weatherly police for taking checks of Kristen Shelhammer and writing them to himself for cash. He used the money to purchase drugs, it was reported. Shelhammer and Miller once had a relationship, it was also noted.Matika placed him on probation for a total of 18 months and ordered him to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, render 75 hours of community service, and have no contact with the victim. Restitution has already been paid, it was noted.David Miller, 26, of Weatherly, pleaded to one count of sale or transfer of a firearm.He was arrested by Weatherly police with taking a Ruger 9 mm handgun belonging to Amanda Ravino and then attempting to sell it to a confidential informant working for borough police. The incident occurred on Aug. 21, 2013.He said he wanted to sell the gun to get money to feed a heroin addiction. The victim is a former girlfriend, it was reported.Matika placed him on probation for two years and ordered he get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 100 hours of community service.Erik Sabol, 30, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana, and a summary offense of public drunkenness.He was arrested on July 7, 2013, in the area of 102 E. Patterson St. Police responded to a report of a person banging on doors causing a disturbance. On scene they found Sabol under the influence.Matika imposed a total of $400 in fines on the two counts.Jodi Lynn Gaffney, 28, of Lansford, and formerly of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of retail theft.She was arrested on Oct. 21, 2013, for an incident at the Wal-Mart store in Mahoning Township.Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service, and stay out of the Wal-Mart store. The stolen items were recovered.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs, which average close to $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.