Pleas entered in drug-related cases
A total of four defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Tuesday.
Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the pleas from the following:Weatherly saleBrooke Marie Baran, 33, of Weatherly pleaded to one count of criminal conspiracy-possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin.She was arrested for an incident on March 5, 2014, in Weatherly. She was charged for her part in the sale of heroin to a confidential informant working for borough police.Baran spent the past year in a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. Baran admitted to a heroin addiction. She sold a firearm to a felon. She pleaded guilty in federal court and was sentenced to a year.She told Matika she had gone through a treatment program while in federal custody and before that spent 28 days in an inpatient rehabilitation program in 2013.She said she stole to get money to feed her habit.She is currently serving an additional two years of federal probation.Matika went along with a request to sentence Baran in the mitigated range of state sentencing guidelines, which called for a minimum sentence of six months in jail.Matika sentenced her to time served (28 days) to one day less two years and paroled her. The term runs concurrent with her federal probation period.She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, supply a DNA sample, and render 50 hours of community service.Other casesKevin Kuklinski, 25, of Freeland, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-marijuana.He was arrested on Dec. 20, 2011, by Weatherly police at Eurana Park, where he attempted to sell marijuana to a female juvenile. He was previously placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked after being arrested on new charges.He is currently serving a state prison term of two and a half to five years on drug charges.He told Matika, "I screwed up. I was getting my life and order, but made a mistake."Matika placed him on probation for a year, concurrent with his state sentence, and ordered he supply a DNA sample.Antoine Shaheed Amons, 31, of East Orange, New Jersey, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested following a traffic stop along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge.Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered he render 25 hours of community service.Jay Michael Miller, 22, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on Feb. 24 by Mahoning Township police following an incident at the AT&T store along Blakeslee Boulevard. While in the store he dropped drug paraphernalia on the floor, then left. Police were able to trace the items to Miller.Miller is currently on supervision on a driving under the influence charge.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered him to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendations for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, and render 50 hours of community service. The term runs consecutive to the DUI sentence.Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000, and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.