Carbon woman admits DUI with child in car
A Carbon County woman admitted driving drunk with her child in the car. She was one of eight defendants in pending driving under the influence cases to enter a guilty plea on Thursday before Carbon Judge Joseph J. Matika.
Susan Wagher, 48, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to two counts of DUI and one count of reckless endangering another person.She was arrested on the first DUI on Jan. 15, 2014, along Route 903 by Jim Thorpe police. A test revealed a 0.06 BAC.The second arrest occurred on March 21, 2014, along Route 93 by Nesquehoning police. At the stop police found her child in the vehicle. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.Matika deferred sentencing so Wagher could obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.Other defendants entering pleas included:John Michael Baucum, 65, of Beaver Meadows, was arrested on Aug. 9, 2014, by Beaver Meadows police. Test results showed 0.23 BAC.A first offense, Matika placed Baucum on probation for six months and ordered zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, pay a fine of $300, and render 25 hours of community service.Leonard Norman Moody, 33, of Summit Hill, was arrested on Oct. 5, 2014, along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive, by Mahoning Township police. Tests showed 0.18 BAC.He was sentenced to 30 days to six months in the county prison, a fine of $300, one year license suspension, zero tolerance for D&A use, and 25 hours of community service.He will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. today and serve on consecutive two-day weekends.Brian Patrick Marshall, 29, of Blakeslee, was arrested on Oct. 9, 2013, along Catawissa Street, by Nesquehoning police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.Sentencing was deferred so Marshall could obtain a D&A evaluation.Paul Joseph Rayno, 56, of Hazleton, was arrested on Oct. 26, 2014, by Weatherly police. His level was 0.12 BAC.Sentencing was deferred so Rayno could obtain a D&A evaluation.Nelson John Pollock III, 31, of West Hazleton, was arrested on Nov. 25, 2012, by Weatherly police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance. He also pleaded to possession of drug paraphernalia.Pollock was previously placed in the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program but it was revoked for failure to complete all conditions.Sentencing was deferred so Pollock could obtain a D&A evaluation.Ashly Ann McArdle, 24, of Andreas, and formerly of Summit Hill, was arrested on Jan. 12, 2013, along Route 902 by Summit Hill police. A test showed 0.16 BAC.She previously was placed in the ARD program but was revoked for violating conditions.Matika sentenced her to serve 48 hours to six months in jail, a fine of $500, one-year license suspension, and render 25 hours of community service.She will begin the jail term at 9 a.m. on May 29.John Robert Steskal, 46, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count each of DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on the DUI charge on Aug. 15, 2014, along Blakeslee Boulevard Drive by Mahoning Township police. A test showed the presence of a controlled substance.The drug charge stems from an Aug. 14, 2014, incident at the Walmart store in Mahoning Township. He had in his possession a pipe used for smoking illegal substances.Sentencing was deferred so he could obtain a D&A evaluation.All defendants sentenced must also pay court costs of about $1,000, and a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.