A Carbon County man pleaded guilty on Monday in the county court to a charge of simple assault which stems from a domestic incident and involved state police.

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

Penn Forest incident

Edward Joseph Hughes

, 60, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of simple assault, a misdemeanor 2, for an incident on July 26, 2016, at a residence along Kilmer Trail in Penn Forest Township. State police at Fern Ridge responded to the home for a reported domestic dispute. On scene troopers were told by the female victim she had been assaulted by Hughes, who said he pushed her to the ground, causing her to strike her head. When troopers attempted to take him into custody, he struggled with the officers, which led to a charge of aggravated assault.

In a plea bargain with the district attorney’s office, the aggravated assault along with resisting arrest, harassment and criminal mischief charges were dropped.

Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.

Resisting arrest

Phillip John McArdle Jr.

, 27, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of resisting arrest.

He was charged for an incident on April 3. Jim Thorpe police observed a vehicle stopped in the middle of North Street with no lights on. As officers approached the vehicle the driver pulled into a parking space. He then got out of the vehicle and ran into an apartment building, followed by the officers. He entered an apartment in the building and locked the door. He refused to exit the apartment, and police had to knock down the door to gain entry.

McArdle then got involved and struggled with officers, who had to use substantial force to take him into custody.

Serfass sentenced McArdle, who has been in prison since his arrest, to time-served (102 days) to 24 months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and render 100 hours of community service.

Other pleas

Sangy Alberto Maldonado

, 21, of Hammonton, New Jersey, pleaded to one count of theft. He admitted taking a credit card from a backpack at the Blue Mountain Ski Lodge in Lower Towamensing Township on Dec. 21, 2017, and using it to attempt to make a purchase.

Serfass sentenced him to time-served (five days) to 12 months and ordered he render 50 hours of community service. There was no restitution due as the attempted purchase failed.

Charles Holland

, 44, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count of harassment, a summary offense. A charge of simple assault was dropped in a plea bargain. The plea agreement was approved by the victim, it was noted.

He was arrested for an incident on Nov. 10, 2017, at his residence involving a female victim. The two got into an argument that led to an altercation.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

Kenneth J. Lumm

, 33, of Palmyra, Lebanon County, pleaded to one count of harassment, as a summary offense. Two counts of persistent disorderly conduct were dropped in a plea agreement approved by the victim.

He was arrested for an incident on June 24, 2017, at Hickory Run State Park, where he got into a confrontation with a park ranger who was directing traffic at the time.

Serfass imposed a fine of $300.

Brian Jerden

, 42, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. A charge of resisting arrest was dropped in a plea bargain.

He was arrested on March 7 by Lehighton police for an incident at his residence along Coal Street involving his brother.

Serfass sentenced him to time-served (29 days) to 12 months and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Stacie D. Rich

, 46, of Albrightsville, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct. In a plea bargain, two counts of simple assault were dropped.

She was arrested on July 1 for an incident at her residence along Stony Mountain Road in Penn Forest Township, involving her husband and another male who had been staying at the residence.

Serfass placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the male that was staying at the residence.

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