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Lansford man admits to drugs in prison; others plea

A Lansford man admitted on Thursday in the county court to having drugs in the county prison.

He was one of six defendants in pending cases involving drug charges to enter a plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.MarijuanaGeorge S. Heffelfinger Jr., 39, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance-marijuana.He was arrested on Feb. 28 when Nesquehoning police were called to the county prison by correctional officers who found Heffelfinger in the bathroom area of the prison with a marijuana cigarette. He was with another inmate at the time who also pleaded guilty Thursday.Heffelfinger is in the county prison serving a nine-month term on unrelated charges.Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.Other pleasOther defendants who entered pleas to drug counts included:Christian Bennett, 24, of Weatherly, who was arrested with Heffelfinger. He pleaded to one count each of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.He is currently serving a probation violation sentence.Matika sentenced him on the paraphernalia charge to serve one to 11 months in prison, concurrent to the sentence he is now serving, and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and render 50 hours of community service.On the possession count he was fined $300.Mika Jackson-Stevenson, 22, of Allentown, pleaded two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on Nov. 18, 2013, along Interstate 80 in Kidder Township by state police at Fern Ridge.Matika placed him on probation on each count for six months, running concurrently, and ordered he render 25 hours of community service.Tammy Callahan, 30, of Wilkes-Barre, and formerly of Kunkletown, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.She was arrested on Feb. 21 along Berwick Street by Beaver Meadows police following a traffic stop.Matika placed her on probation for six months and ordered her to continue her drug counseling program and render 25 hours of community service.Paul Michael Breslin, 19, an inmate at the county prison with no current address, pleaded to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property.He was arrested on Jan. 22 by Weatherly police for an incident at 243 Hudsondale St. Police responded to the home of his mother, where he was not allowed. While taking him into custody police found drug paraphernalia. He was accused of having a stolen ring in his possession at the time of the arrest.On the paraphernalia charge he was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 days in jail with credit for 60 already served and paroled.On the receiving charge he was sentenced to serve 30 to 61 days in jail consecutive to the first count, with credit for 61 days and paroled.Robert C. Saville, 38, of Lehighton, and formerly of Nesquehoning, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on Nov. 9, 2013, along Route 209 by Nesquehoning police following a traffic stop.He was placed on probation for six months and ordered to continued his mental health counseling, and render 25 hours of community service.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.