A former guard at the Carbon County prison entered a guilty plea in the county court on Monday to a charge of open lewdness for an incident at the county prison.

He was one of 10 defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Sexual act

Jose L. Ortiz,

24, of Lehighton, was originally charged by Nesquehoning police with institutional sexual assault, a felony 3. That charge was dropped in a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office. Police accused Ortiz of making a female inmate at the prison perform a sexual act on him. After he was charged, his employment at the prison was terminated by the county commissioners.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service.

Other pleas

Joseph John Stalgaitis,

42, formerly of Lansford, pleaded to one count of theft for an incident on Aug. 25, 2018, filed by state police at Lehighton.

Stalgaitis is currently an inmate in the county prison serving a six- to 12-month sentence imposed on April 23 by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Matika sentenced him to serve six to 12 months in the county prison with credit for 142 days already served and ordered that it run concurrent with his present sentence. He was also ordered to render 25 hours of community service when released, supply a DNA sample and have no contact with the victim.

Jared Behler,

20, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of criminal trespass, a felony 2. He was charged by Palmerton police for an incident on June 1, 2019.

Sentencing was deferred to May 28 when Behler has another court appearance scheduled.

Brandon Chuma,

21, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of possession of an offensive weapon. He was originally charged with seven criminal counts including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony, and other drug counts. All the drug counts were dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office.

He was arrested on April 4, 2017, by Lansford police.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service.

Calvin D. Cederborg,

34, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of criminal mischief, as a felony 3, in exchange for a felony 3 reckless burning and misdemeanor recklessly endangering charges dropped in a plea deal. He was charged by Nesquehoning police for an incident on Aug. 17, 2015, for setting fire to a garage in the 300 block of West Catawissa Street.

He was previously placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it for violating conditions.

Matika placed him on probation for two years and ordered he render 100 hours of community service, make restitution of $5,500, supply a DNA sample and have no contact with the victim.

Brian Marshall,

57, of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count each of persistent disorderly conduct and a summary offense of harassment. A simple assault count was dropped in a plea deal. He was charged on Sept. 7, 2019, by Franklin Township police.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he make restitution of $97.50, render 50 hours of community service and attend and successfully complete an anger management course.

Robert R. Smith,

52, of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count of simple assault. He was charged on Jan. 17 by state police at Lehighton for an incident involving his son as the victim.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

Robert A. Copeland,

59, of Weatherly, pleaded to one count of simple assault. He was charged by state police at Hazleton for an incident on Feb. 29 with a female victim.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, render 50 hours of community service, make restitution of $36 to the victim and supply a DNA sample.

Raymond C. Mayers Jr.,

32, of Danielsville, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense, with a charge of simple assault dropped in a plea deal. He was charged on July 18, 2019, by Palmerton police.

Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Shawn James Leone,

20, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. He was charged by state police at Lehighton for an incident on Feb. 4. Leone is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charge.

Matika sentenced him to serve 90 days to one year in jail, get both mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and must submit a pre-parole plan before he is released which must be approved by the adult probation office. He was given credit for 98 days already served.

Deborah Mirabella, 54, and James V. Mirabella,

57, of Scotrun, both pleaded to charges of forgery for an incident in Palmerton on July 22, 2016, Both were placed on probation for six months and ordered to make restitution of $165.

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