Several defendants plead guilty in DUI cases
A White Haven man pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and several motor vehicle code violations in two pending cases on Tuesday in Carbon County court.
He was one of four defendants in pending DUI-related cases to enter a plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.Vehicle stopMatthew Drake Graham, 33, was arrested for DUI on July 20, 2014, after being stopped for erratic driving along Route 93 by Beaver Meadows police.A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2013, along the turnpike in Kidder Township by state police at Pocono after being involved in a crash.As a result of that incident he pleaded to operation of an unregistered vehicle, display of an improper plate and following too closely.On the summary offenses Matika imposed total fines of $150 and costs.Sentencing on the DUI charge was deferred so Graham could obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.Other pleasOther defendants who entered pleas in DUI-related cases included:Romero Lee McLain, 29, of Nesquehoning, was arrested on March 15 along Mill Street by Mahoning Township police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance. The arrest came at a checkpoint operation.McLain is an inmate in the county prison on a detainer filed by the adult probation office for a probation violation.On the DUI charge Matika sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000, one-year license suspension, zero tolerance for D&A use, and render 25 hours of community service.McLain also pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia which stemmed from the DUI stop. He was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to the DUI charge, and ordered to render an additional 50 hours of community service.On a summary offense of driving under suspension, he was fined $200 and costs.Kenneth Baker, 50, of Manchester, Connecticut, was arrested Nov. 9, 2014, along White Bear Drive by Summit Hill police. A test showed 0.10 BAC.Matika sentenced him to serve 72 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $300, one-year license suspension, zero tolerance for D&A use, and render 15 hours of community service.He was given credit for 72 hours already spent in jail on the charge and paroled.Jonathan Paul O'Gurek, 34, of Summit Hill, was arrested on Feb. 25 along West Railroad Street by Nesquehoning police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so O'Gurek could obtain a D&A evaluation.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole or probation.