A Carbon County man admitted to drunk driving and drug possession charges in the county court on Monday with more serious drug distribution counts dropped.

Ronald Carnes III, 28, formerly of Slatington now stating a Lehighton address, entered his plea before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

He pleaded to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of DUI.

He was originally charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on July 29, 2020, for the DUI count along Route 248 at State Road in Franklin Township by state police at Lehighton.

The more serious drug arrest occurred on Jan. 1, 2021, by Jim Thorpe police.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer John Pruitte Jr. on Jan. 6, Pruitte, along with members of the Carbon County Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 100 block of Jamestown Street in Lehighton, after a several-week-long narcotics investigation by Pruitte.

A search of the residence yielded several items indicative of the distribution of illegal substances, mainly methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl. A black box, along with a pink zippered bag, were located under a sofa in the living room area of the residence. Inside the black box was about 29 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, along with a scale and baggies and smoking devices (glass pipe and tubes).

Inside the pink zippered bag was another 6 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

A black zippered bag was located on a shelf in the master bedroom. Inside the bag was about 3.5 ounces of suspected marijuana, along with several glass pipes and loose baggies for packaging.

Carnes was in the residence and admitted that all items were his. He has been in the county prison since his arrest.

On the DUI count Serfass sentenced him to serve 90 days to 60 months in prison, pay a fine of $1,500, license suspended for 18 months, render 100 hours of community service and zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use.

On the drug counts he was sentenced to serve one day less six to one day less 12 months in prison on each count with the terms running consecutively but concurrent to the DUI charge.

He was also ordered to render a total of 150 hours of community service, pay court costs of over $1,000 and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on parole. He was given credit for a total of 365 days already served and paroled.

It was noted he will now be turned over to officials in Lehigh County where he faces a probation/parole violation.