An Albrightsville man entered a guilty plea to a charge of flight to avoid apprehension, while a Lehighton man admitted to threats and theft counts.

The two were among a total of five defendants in pending criminal cases to enter guilty pleas before Carbon County Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Penn Forest incident

Gregory S. Ross,

33, pleaded to one count each of flight to avoid apprehension, a felony 3, and a harassment count for an incident on Oct. 2, 2019, in Penn Forest Township. In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office dropped a felony 2 count of strangulation.

State police at Fern Ridge responded to a residence along East Mud Run Road for a report of an assault. Previously, troopers were told by Ross’ girlfriend that he had assaulted her. He fled the residence when troopers arrived but was later found.

Ross said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder but plans on seeking help at the veterans hospital in Wilkes-Barre. He said he also plans to relocate from this area to North Carolina, where he has family living.

Serfass sentenced him to time-served, 122 days, to one day less 24 months in prison and ordered he supply a DNA sample, get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, render 100 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim. On the summary harassment charge he was fined $300.

Three cases

David Smith,

38, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty in two pending cases and was sentenced in a third, in which he had previously entered a guilty plea. His appearance before Serfass was by video conference from the county prison, where he is an inmate.

Smith admitted to threatening a former girlfriend who had a protection from abuse order against him which he violated on June 19. He pleaded to access device fraud and admitted using the credit card of his mother without her permission at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township.

He previously pleaded to possession of a controlled substance.

Serfass sentenced him to serve a total of six to one day less 24 months in prison on the charges and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation, render 100 hours of community service when paroled, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol us and no contact with the victim.

Serfass also imposed a probation term of 24 months on the access device case, running consecutive to the jail term.

He was given credit for 59 days already served.

Other pleas

Paul Teat,

52, of Albrightsville, pleaded to a summary offense of harassment. In exchange for the plea, a felony 2 count of strangulation was dropped.

He was arrested on Sept. 30, 2019, by state police at Fern Ridge for an incident in Penn Forest Township. The female victim agreed to the plea deal, it was noted.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

Jennifer E. Mustacchio,

44, of Kunkletown, pleaded to two summary offenses of operating a vehicle without proper financial responsibility and permitting a violation of title. She was arrested on June 21, 2019, by Lehighton police at the Fast Fill station on Route 443.

Serfass imposed fines totaling $325.

Bethann Marie Neff,

33, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of false identification to law enforcement. She was arrested on Oct. 14, 2019, by Weissport police at the Weissport Canal Park. When questioned by police in a matter, she gave a false name.

She was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Each defendant must also pay court costs of about $1,000 and a $50 per month supervision fee.