A Northampton County man was sentenced to a county prison term Tuesday afternoon on a terroristic threats charge.

He was one of three defendants who previously pleaded guilty to criminal charges to be sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II.

Summit Hill incident

Michael Loyd ludicello

, 38, of Nazareth, was sentenced by serve three to 18 months in prison followed by one year of probation.

He was charged for an incident on Oct. 11, 2018, when Summit Hill police responded to a residence along East Hazard Street for a domestic incident. Police learned that ludicello threatened to shoot his wife at her place of employment. There were other threats made on Oct. 12, but they were not included in the plea bargain with the district attorney’s office.

Defense Attorney Edward M. Olexa asked the court not to consider some of the allegations made in the presentence investigation report prepared by the adult probation office and given by his client’s estranged wife. He said the allegations made about his client breaking the law were never prosecuted, charges were never filed. He said the court should consider that the couple is going through a divorce. He said ludicello’s wife has secured a protection from abuse order against him, which is for three years.

Nanovic also ordered ludicello to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations and follow any recommendations for treatment, attend and successfully complete an anger management course, possess no firearms, no ammunition for firearms or firearm permits and make restitution to his wife of $487.50 for lost wages.

ludicello began the jail term immediately and was given credit for one day already served.

Other cases

Paul Lopes

, 54, of Lehighton, was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail followed by 18 months in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program — house arrest — with the first 60 days on electronic monitoring.

Lopes was arrested by Mahoning Township police in November 2017 when he falsely answered a question on an application to purchase a shotgun. He answered “no” concerning a prior criminal record when he had criminal charges in a domestic violence incident.

Defense Attorney Christopher Spadoni asked that Lopes be placed in the IPP for the entire sentence and no jail time be served due to multiple health problems he is facing saying he made an honest mistake.

Nanovic countered by noting Lopes attempted to buy a handgun earlier and was told he was not permitted to do so, then tried to buy a shotgun. He said, “He knew he could not buy a firearm.”

Lopes said, “I made a mistake whether people believe me or not.”

Lopes was also ordered to supply a DNA sample.

He will serve the 30 days on consecutive weekends beginning Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.

Michael L. Kern

, 50, of Slatington, was sentenced to serve five days to six months in jail on a driving under the influence charge, pay a fine of $300 and his license was suspended for a year. He was arrested on Jan. 10, 2017, by Palmerton police along Delaware Avenue. Kern was found guilty of the charge by Nanovic following a bench trial.

Kern was given credit for three days already served. Kern is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Camp Hill, Cumberland County, serving a one- to five-year term imposed in Lehigh County. Nanovic ruled his sentence would run concurrent with the Lehigh term.

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