A Lehigh County man was sentenced to a prison term on Monday after pleading guilty to a drug-related charge.

He was one of six defendants in pending drug cases to enter a plea before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Controlled buy

Jose Rafael Cruz-Garcia, 29, of Allentown, pleaded to one count of criminal use of a communication facility, a felony 3. In exchange for the plea the district attorney’s office dropped two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The communication charge was added to the original complaint.

Cruz-Garcia was arrested on June 12, 2018, along Route 443 in Lehighton at a local service station. The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation involving Cruz-Garcia. He was under surveillance by agents of the state attorney general office. Agents learned he was in the Lehighton area to make drug sale, which was arranged by police using a confidential informant. The sale was made at the service station.

Since the arrest Cruz-Garcia was arrested and convicted of another criminal count in Lehigh County and served a prison term of 82 days to 23 months.

Nanovic sentenced him to serve two to 23 months in prison, concurrent with the Lehigh term, and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and supply a DNA sample.

He was given credit for 32 days, 30 in an inpatient program and two days in jail. He will begin serving the remaining 28 days on Aug. 23 at noon.

Other pleas

Marianne Mae Hauser, 56, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. In exchange for the plea, felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility were dropped. She also entered a guilty plea to a charge of retail theft, rated a felony 3.

The drug arrest occurred on Sept. 26, 2019, filed by Lansford police. Police said she sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. The theft occurred on Jan. 31, 2020, at the Lowe’s store in Mahoning Township.

Hauser entered two inpatient programs for a drug addiction problem for a total of 119 days and also spent time in a halfway house.

Nanovic placed her in the Restriction Conditions of Probation program (house arrest) for three years with time-served, 119 days, in jail, followed by two months on electronic monitoring. She was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and supply a DNA sample.

Steven Francis Bridge, 38, of Hazle Township, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested on March 3, 2017, by Weatherly police following a traffic stop along Hill Street. Heroin was found.

He was placed on probation for a year, consecutive to a Luzerne County term he is serving, and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and zero tolerance imposed for drug or alcohol use.

James Silvers, 43, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia in exchange for a charge of possession of a controlled substance being dropped.

He was arrested on Dec. 13, 2020, by state police at Lehighton at a residence in East Penn Township. He is currently an inmate in the county prison on a probation violation.

Nanovic placed him on probation for a year and ordered he get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and imposed zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

Ernesto Luis Gonzalez, 30, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. In exchange for the plea a charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped.

He was arrested on Feb. 5 by Lansford police following a vehicle stop near Bertsch and Walnut streets. The police indicated methamphetamine was found.

Nanovic imposed a fine of $500.

Kendra L. Chrynwski, 32, of Reading, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with a charge of possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon dropped.

She was arrested on Oct. 21, 2018, by state police at Lehighton in the 9100 block of Route 209 in Towamensing Township.

She told the court she is currently in a rehabilitation drug program.

Nanovic placed her on probation for a year, consecutive to a term she is currently serving, and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, and must successfully finish her current program.

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