Four defendants in pending criminal cases entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court last week.

Judge Steven R. Serfass accepted the pleas from the following:

Michael Joseph Smith, 39, of Lehighton, entered guilty pleas in two pending cases to one count each of defiant trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on the trespass count on June 1, 2020, by Lehighton police at the Gypsy Hill Garden Apartments. Police were called to the complex to a report that Smith had entered an apartment in which he was previously told he was banned from entering.

The drug charge stems from a July 12, 2020, incident in Lehighton. Police observed Smith riding a bicycle and knew he had an active warrant for his arrest. While taking him into custody, they found the drug paraphernalia.

Smith’s plea was done via video from the county prison where he is being held on probation/parole violation petitions filed by the adult probation office.

On the trespass charge Serfass sentenced him time-served (44 days) to a year in jail and on the drug count a fine of $2,500. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service when paroled.

His plea was done via video conference from the county prison.

Kimberly A. Knight, 40, who lists her address as the county prison, pleaded to felony 3 counts of criminal trespass and aggravated harassment by a prisoner. Charges of burglary and criminal attempt were dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

She was arrested on Sept. 24, 2019, by Lehighton police who were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of South Second Street. The victim called police, stating she came downstairs in her home and observed a female in her living room who she did not know. The female fled the home prior to the arrival of police but dropped her wallet. Her identification was found in the wallet and Knight was later arrested.

Sentencing was deferred as Serfass ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Her plea was done via video conference from the county prison.

Russell B. Woodward Jr., 63, of Lansford, pleaded to one count each of defiant trespass and public drunkenness, a summary offense. In exchange for the pleas, felony counts of attempted burglary and criminal attempt were dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested on Aug. 19, 2015, after Lansford police responded to a residence along East Bertsch Street for a report of an unwanted person. Woodward was found and appeared to be visibly intoxicated. He claimed he was under the influence of medication that had been prescribed for him.

Sentencing was deferred and Serfass ordered a presentence investigation report be prepared by the adult probation office.

Troy Dubois, 50, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of theft.

He was arrested on July 11, 2020, in the area of 373 S. Second St. Police responded to a report of a bicycle being stolen off a porch. Police found Dubois with the bike a few blocks away.

Serfass sentenced him to time-served (23 days) to one year in jail and ordered him to get both mental health and drug and alcohol evaluations and render 50 hours of community service.

His plea was done via video conference from the county prison.

Defendants that were sentenced were also ordered to pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.