A Carbon County woman admitted in the county court on Tuesday to stealing a large amount of money from her former employer.

She was one of 11 defendants in pending criminal cases to enter a guilty plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Lehighton incident

Miranda Lorraine Salasky, 32, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of theft. She was charged by Lehighton police for stealing from Dunbar Bottling located along Main Lane.

According to police, Salasky was employed as a cashier at the beer distributor in October 2020. The owner discovered that Salasky was recording fraudulent transactions concerning the return of beer kegs and then taking the money from the cash register when no kegs were actually being returned. As a result she faces a restitution bill over $17,000.

Salasky admitted to a drug addiction problem and said she has been addressing it. She said she has been “clean” since November 2020. She told Serfass, “This has really opened my eyes.”

Serfass placed her on probation for 48 months, noting the lengthy period was due to the restitution due, which is $17,412.15. She was also ordered to supply a DNA sample, render 100 hours of community service and continue mental health counseling.

Couple pleads

Barry Keith Frohnheiser Jr., 55, and his wife, Sheryl Frohnheiser, 59, of Jim Thorpe, entered guilty pleas for their part in an incident at their residence that occurred on Aug. 1, 2020. He pleaded to one count of disorderly conduct, as a summary offense, which was added to the original complaint. She pleaded to public drunkenness.

Jim Thorpe police responded to the residence for a report of a female out-of-control. When officers arrived, a woman was observed along the wood line of the property and she began to charge at the police cruiser. Both admitted using methamphetamine at the residence while having custody of a grandchild. The grandchild was removed from the home by children and youth but has since been placed back in the custody of the couple.

Barry Frohnheiser was ordered to pay a fine of $300 and Sheryl Frohnheiser was ordered to pay a fine of $500 and continue her drug counseling and testing program.

Other pleas

Elizabeth Ann Kent, 30, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of resisting arrest for an incident on Feb. 11 at the courthouse in Jim Thorpe.

Sheriff deputies assisted probation officers who attempted to place Kent under arrest. She struggled with the officers and had to be physically carried to the sheriff office for transportation to the county prison. She fell on the floor and refused to cooperate. Inside the sheriff’s office area she continued her combative behavior by yelling and screaming. That conduct continued while she was transported to the prison.

Sentencing was deferred.

Jesse Christopher Beidler, 40, of Tamaqua, pleaded to one count of false reports to law enforcement.

He was arrested for an incident on July 7, 2020. State police at Lehighton responded to a crash report on Mill Road in Mahoning Township. On scene Beidler told troopers another person was driving the vehicle when it crashed and had left the scene. An investigation revealed Beidler was driving the vehicle.

Serfass placed him on probation for 18 months and ordered he render 75 hours of community service. He was originally charged with driving under the influence but the commonwealth dropped the count when police learned that Beidler had a prescription for drugs found in the car in an amount allowed.

Samantha Kuntz, 32, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of disorderly conduct, as a summary offense. In exchange for the plea a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was dropped.

She was arrested on June 5, 2020, by Lansford police near Patterson and Sharpe streets.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

Justin Carley, 31, of Bowmanstown, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. He was arrested on Oct. 16, 2019, by Lansford police for an incident along East Patterson Street. He admitted stealing Christmas decorations from a property along the street. A theft count was dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office.

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to render 25 hours of community service.

Quinn Isaiah Temple, 21, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of simple assault. He was arrested by state police at Fern Ridge on May 12, 2018, for an incident in which he assaulted his brother.

He was placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to make restitution of $1,190.23 for medical bills, supply a DNA sample and render 100 hours of community service.

Amauris Acosta Espinal, 35, of Allentown, pleaded to one count each of retail theft and fleeing or attempting to elude police.

He was arrested on June 11 by Lehighton police. Officers were called to the M&S Hardware store on South Second Street for a retail theft. Police were told a man entered the store and removed three power drills, valued at $985.97, and fled in a vehicle. Police spotted the vehicle, and a short pursuit occurred before Espinal pulled over and was taken into custody. The power drills were found in the vehicle.

On the theft charge, Espinal was sentenced to time-served (68 days) to one year and on the fleeing count, the same sentence, running concurrently.

He was also ordered to render 100 hours of community service.

Espinal is currently an inmate in the county prison on the charges.

Jarrad J. Marsh, 32, of Bath, pleaded to one count each of flight to avoid apprehension and summary offense of driving under suspension.

He was arrested on June 5 by Lehighton police who made a vehicle stop along Route 443 in the area of the Sunoco service station. As the suspect vehicle was stopping, Marsh jumped out of the passenger side and fled on foot. He was caught a short distance later on Route 443.

He is currently an inmate in the Northampton County prison awaiting action on two pending DUI charges.

On the flight charge he was sentenced to time-served (22 days) to 18 months and on the suspension charge a fine of $1,000. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 75 hours of community service when paroled.

Amanda L. Schleicher, 37, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of obstruction administration of law and other governmental functions. She was arrested on Jan. 17, 2017, by Lehighton police.

Police responded to a residence along Carbon Street to assist the office of children and youth, which had a court order to remove Schleicher’s four children from the home and place them in foster care. She interfered with the children and youth officers in taking the children from the home.

Sentencing was deferred because she has other cases pending.

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