A Bethlehem woman recently entered guilty pleas in multiple criminals cases and was sentenced to a state prison term in Carbon County court.

She was one of eight defendants in pending cases to appear before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to enter a guilty plea.

Contraband

Amber Collen Defiore, 28, entered guilty pleas to counts of possession of a controlled substance, retail theft, driving under the influence and defiant trespass (two counts). She previously entered guilty pleas to felony counts of contraband - controlled substances into the prison and escape.

Nanovic sentenced her to a total of two to five years in a state correctional institution. She was also ordered to get a mental health evaluation, enter a short-term drug treatment program, driver’s license suspended for 18 months and pay a fine of $1,500 in a DUI case.

The contraband charge was filed for an incident on March 5, 2021, when she appeared at the county prison to begin serving a weekend sentence and had illegal drugs on her.

She was charged with escape for an incident on Feb. 8, 2021. She was furloughed from the prison to enter an inpatient rehab program. She was told if she left the program early or was removed from it, she had to report to the prison to continue serving her term. She left the program on her own but did not return to the prison and had to be picked up on a warrant.

The DUI occurred on March 20, 2019, filed by state police at Lehighton; retail theft on June 6, 2019, filed by Mahoning Township police; drug possession count also on June 6 filed by Mahoning Township police; the defiant trespass counts also occurred in Mahoning Township at the Walmart store.

Defiore is currently an inmate in the Luzerne County prison on other criminal charges.

She was given credit in some cases for time-served, but records indicate no credit for the contraband count.

Other cases

Other defendant pleading included:

Francis Edward Ney, 37, of Shenandoah, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. In exchange for the plea, a felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance was dropped.

He was sentenced to serve six to 12 months in the county prison and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

He was given credit for 16 days already served.

Ney is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Laurel Highlands, Somerset County, serving a term imposed in another county. Nanovic ruled his sentence would run concurrent with Ney’s state sentence.

Janine April Sarau, 21, of Nesquehoning, entered guilty pleas in two pending cases to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal conspiracy.

She was arrested on the conspiracy charge on June 27, 2020, at the county prison. In exchange for the plea, a felony count of contraband - controlled substance into the prison was dropped. The paraphernalia charge was for an incident on June 19, 2021, filed by state police at Lehighton. A charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal.

Sentencing was deferred and a presentence investigation report ordered.

Kyle Anthony Capretta, 25, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of public drunkenness. He was arrested on May 1, 2021, by Mahoning Township police. A charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal.

He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation. On the drunkenness charge he was fined $100 and costs.

Jeremy Bryan Ronco, 41, of Gouldsboro, pleaded to one count of false alarm to agency. He was arrested on Feb. 28, 2021, by Nesquehoning police.

He was sentenced to serve three to 18 months in the county prison and ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations.

He was given credit for three days already served.

Evelyn Ruth Barbar Ross, 45, of New York City, pleaded to one count of accidents involving damage to property or vehicle. She was arrested on May 17, 2021, by Lansford police.

She was ordered to pay a fine of $100 and make restitution of $360 to the victim.

Rodger John-Esser Keretz, 27, of Walnutport, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of harassment. A charge of simple assault was dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Nov. 25, 2021, by Lansford police.

Sentencing was deferred to May 20 at 9 a.m. A presentence investigation report to be prepared by the adult probation office.

Whitney Cheyanne Lockwitch, 30, of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of simple assault.

She was charged on Oct. 4, 2020, by Nesquehoning police.

Nanovic placed her on probation for six months and ordered she get a mental health evaluation, render 20 hours of community service and have no contact with the victim.

Shawn David Major, 36, of Lansford, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on Oct. 13, 2021, by Lansford police. A charge of possession of a controlled substance was dropped in a plea deal.

He was sentenced to serve three to 12 months in the county prison and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation. The prison term, which began immediately, runs concurrent with any Schuylkill County cases he has pending.

Christopher Edward Detemple-McLaughlin, 30, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of criminal conspiracy - theft. A charge of theft and related counts were dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, by Nesquehoning police.

Sentencing was deferred so a presentence investigation report can be prepared, the adult probation office is to look into a restitution claims and the defendant will apply for house arrest program eligibility.

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