A Lehighton man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Monday to driving under the influence and reckless endangering another person. He was one of four defendants in pending DUI cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Crashes vehicleEdward Eugene Whitehead III, 30, was arrested on May 10 after he crashed his vehicle into a utility pole along West Lizard Creek Road, near Lauchnors Drive, in East Penn Township. State police at Lehighton said Whitehead was speeding at the time and left the scene. His passenger, Timothy Whitehead, a cousin, was seriously injured and told investigators who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. Whitehead was later found at his residence and admitted driving and going about 70 mph at the time.Matika deferred sentencing so Whitehead could apply for placement in the county's Intermediate Punishment Program with electronic monitoring (house arrest).Other pleasOther defendants who pleaded to DUI included:Johnny Stephen Schafer, 27, of Lehighton, pleaded to two counts of DUI. He was arrested on the first count on April 12 by Mahoning Township police along Mahoning Mountain Road. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance. The second arrest occurred on June 20 along the same road. In that incident he refused a blood test.Matika deferred sentencing so Schafer could obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and also apply for the IPP.Everett Edwards IV, 20, of Philadelphia, was arrested on Jan. 30 along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was sentenced to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one year license suspension, pay court costs of about $1,000, pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole and render 25 hours of community service. He will begin the jail term at noon on Jan. 11.Glen D. Peabody, 45, of Summit Hill, was arrested on March 29 along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East by Mahoning Township police. A test showed 0.10 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so he could apply for the IPP.