Several defendants in pending drug-related cases entered pleas before Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika in county court Tuesday.

Vito William Molle, 32, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin.He was arrested by agents of the state Attorney General's office and county drug task force following a search warrant served on his residence at 431 E. Ridge St., on March 5. Found in the home were 22 bags of heroin and various drug paraphernalia.Under sentencing guidelines, for a second conviction for delivery, he is facing a prison term at the time of sentencing.Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.He is currently in the county prison.Joseph Gernnaro, 26, of Hazle Township, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of possession with intent to deliver a counterfeit controlled substance-heroin.He was arrested by Weatherly police in January after he sold heroin to a confidential informant. After the sale, Gernnaro was arrested. The five bags he turned over to the CI as heroin were actually sugar.Gernnaro said he made the sale to get money to feed his own heroin addiction.Gernnaro told Matika, "I take full responsibility for what I did. I hurt my family."Matika sentenced him to serve 90 days to 23 months in prison and ordered he 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 100 hours of community service.He was given credit for 90 days already spent in jail on the charge and was paroled.Nicholas Allesch, 22, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of controlled substance-marijuana.He was arrested by agents of the Attorney General's office and county drug task force on March 6 at Molle's residence in Lansford, where 75 grams of marijuana were found. Allesch said the marijuana belonged to him.Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service and imposed zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use.Michael Merenda, 28, of Weatherly, pleaded to one count of criminal conspiracy-possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested by Weatherly police in October 2013 at 104 E. Main St. Police found him in possession of three crack pipes and a bong.Matika placed him on probation for six months and ordered he render 25 hours of community service.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.