Two people were sentenced to state prison terms on Friday in Carbon County court after entering guilty pleas to drug dealing charges.

Judge Steven R. Serfass presided at the proceedings, which were done by video conference. The two defendants are inmates in the county prison and entered their pleas via video. In the courtroom, in following guidelines for COVID-19, were Serfass, court personnel including a stenographer, clerk of courts office representative, tipstaff, sheriff deputy, a probation officer, an assistant district attorney, and the attorney representing the defendant.

Those sentenced were:

Search warrant

Johnathan Robert Exner,

29, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 months in a state correctional institution after pleading to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

He was arrested on Feb. 20 when members of the county drug task force served a search warrant on his then address at 150 Jamestown St., Lehighton. Found in the home were 9.9 grams of meth and packaging material used in the sale of meth.

Exner said he sought different types of treatment for his drug addiction over the years but all were unsuccessful.

He told Serfass, “I really want to get this over with and get on with my life.”

In addition to the prison term, Exner was ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and when paroled render 200 hours of community service. He will apply for the state’s drug treatment program once he is transferred to the state system. He was given credit for 58 days already served on the charge.

Three cases

Timothy Kolb,

44, of Weissport, entered guilty pleas in three pending cases and was sentenced to serve a total of 16 to 36 months in a state prison.

He pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, heroin, for an incident on June 7, 2019. Weissport police observed Kolb walking on a street, and he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. While taking him into custody, he was found with a small amount of heroin. He also pleaded to possession of drug paraphernalia for an incident on Nov. 2, 2019, in Weissport. Police were serving a warrant at his residence when they found various drug paraphernalia.

The third case involved a simple assault charge for an incident on Nov. 2, 2019, at the county prison in Nesquehoning. He admitted throwing a cup of urine on a corrections officer. In that case, a charge of aggravated assault was dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

It was noted Kolb has a lengthy prior criminal record and has had mental health issues for which he is currently receiving treatment. He spent 30 days in an inpatient facility.

Serfass said looking at Kolb’s prior record, which dates back to the 1980s, his mental health issues and his drug addiction, a state prison is the best place to get him the help he needs.

Kolb was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, and when paroled render 250 hours of community service. He was given credit for 168 days already served.

Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000.