Joseph J. Matika sentenced 13 defendants last week. Most of the cases stemmed from drug or alcohol related offenses. All 13 defendants had previously pleaded guilty.

Daniel C. Skibber, 40, of Stroudsburg, was sentenced to six months to two years in jail, followed by five years on probation and 75 hours of community service. Skibber was arrested Dec. 18, 2013, for retail theft.Matika gave Skibber credit for 47 days in a rehabilitation facility.Matika ordered that providing Skibber is eligible he should be released to work release immediately.Wayne D. Gross Jr., 31, of Berwick was sentenced to one year probation, 25 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $381 to Kuchera Automotive Inc.Gross pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property. He is currently serving time in Luzerne County prison and has charges pending in both Luzerne and Columbia counties.Frances Ann Hallman, 62, of Palmerton was sentenced to six to 24 months in jail and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $160. Matika also ordered Hallman to have a mental health evaluation and she can be released from jail to a residential group home when a bed becomes available.Hallman had pleaded guilty to simple assault with an enhancement for use of a deadly weapon. The charges were the result of an altercation between Hallman and Donald Hemptzel. Hemptzel had been living in Hallman's home when the pair had a disagreement that led to Hallman stabbing Hemptzel three times.Matika took into consideration that Hallman had no prior criminal history and has had a serious of mental and physical health issues.Nelson DeJesus, 25, of Hazleton had his sentencing continued because that he has been incarcerated in Luzerne County prison and has not yet had his drug and alcohol evaluation completed.Matika ruled that DeJesus will be held in Carbon County until the evaluation is complete.Jonathon Paul O'Gurek, 34, of Summit Hill, was sentenced to not less than 90 days to two years in jail, a license suspension of 18 months, 100 hours of community service and $1,500 in fines. O'Gurek must also complete an intensive outpatient treatment program.Matika gave O'Gurek 29 days credit for time served and permitted O'Gurek to serve his sentence on weekends beginning Sept. 25.Edward T. Thierer, 47, of Nesquehoning, was sentenced to two years on probation and to undergo a mental health as well as drug and alcohol evaluation.Thierer pleaded guilty to a retail theft felony charge for stealing $1,800 worth of items from Walmart in Mahoning Township. The items were recovered and there was no restitution ordered. Matika did not order community service due to Thierer's health issues.Elizabeth Alexis Kane, 21, of Summit Hill, was sentenced to 72 hours to two years in jail, a $1,000 fine, 25 hours of community service and a one year license suspension. Kane admitted in court that she was not clean and would not pass a drug test. Matika ordered Kane to take a test before leaving the courthouse so that there would be a baseline test on file for her.Kane's had pleaded guilty to DUI and tampering or fabrication physical evidence. On the second charge Kane was sentenced to probation for one year and 50 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay a $50 fine for a harassment charge.Izael Flores, 18, of Nesquehoning, was sentenced to nine to 24 months, with 245 days credit for time served on a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.Flores was one of six people who robbed two juveniles of a cellphone on Jan. 1. Although there was a gun used in the robbery attempt, the assistant district attorney informed the court that at trial the state could not prove that Flores ever handled the gun.Flores was also ordered to do 100 hours of community service and pay $170 in restitution to the victims as well as serve one year probation upon his release from jail.Raymond Larue Sitler, 24, of Lehighton, was sentenced to 15 to 36 months in a state correctional institution, 100 hours of community service for pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver. Sitler's sentence will run concurrent with a sentence he is currently serving.Sitler asked to be considered for Motivational Boot Camp. Matika agreed that if Sitler met the requirements for the boot camp that he believed that Sitler would benefit from it.Michael Joseph Neff Jr., 21, of Lehighton, was sentenced to 72 hours to six months in jail beginning Sept. 27. Neff must also render 25 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine. His license will be suspended for one year.Neff pleaded guilty to a DUI which occurred in Franklin Township in May 2013.Juan Rivas III, 28, of Bethlehem had pleaded guilty to false ID and driving while under suspension- DUI related. Rivas was sentenced to 30 to 60 days in jail, but must serve the 60 days. He was also required to pay a fine of $500 and render 50 hours of community service. He must also service one year on probation after his release.Matika agreed to permit Rivas to serve his sentence on weekends beginning Friday, Oct. 16.Fredrick Willi Puderer, 39, of Mahanoy City was sentenced to six months on probation and 25 hours of community service and a $300 fine. He must complete a treatment intervention group as well.Randy R. Gombert, 39, of Palmerton, was sentenced to six months on probation and a $300 fine as well as 25 hours of community service and completion of a treatment intervention group.Four defendants failed to complete their drug and alcohol evaluations in the time that the court had allowed. George Michael Dougherty 23, of Coaldale, Marley C. Guesic, 26, of Lansdale, Samantha Kuntz, 26, of Jim Thorpe and Joseph Spezialetti, 24, of Lehighton were all removed from the courtroom in handcuffs having had their bail revoked. Matika set the new bail at $10,000 cash and ordered all four to not be eligible for release until after the requisite evaluations were completed.