A total of seven defendants in pending drug-related cases entered guilty pleas on Monday in Carbon County court.

Judge Joseph J. Matika accepted the pleas from the following:

Two counts

Kevin M. Horvath

, 42, of Bowmanstown, pleaded to two counts of possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine.

He was arrested on Aug. 20 by state police at Lehighton in the area of Evergreen Road in Franklin Township. The second arrest occurred on July 22 along Rock Street by Franklin Township police.

Horvath told Matika he got involved in illegal drug use and became an addict. He said he spent time in the county prison, which he called “a wake-up call” for him. He spent time in jail for a probation violation.

He told Matika he was taking steps to get his life back.

Matika placed him on probation for 18 months on each count with the terms running concurrently. He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment and render 75 hours of community service. On a charge of driving under suspension, he was fined $200.

State time

Matthew Damian Frederick

, 25, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arrested on the first count on June 7 by Palmerton police in the area of 643 Delaware Ave. The second arrest occurred on April 22 in the 500 block of Lehigh Avenue, also filed by Palmerton police.

Frederick is currently an inmate in the state correctional institution at Smithfield, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County. He has already served his minimum but is waiting to be placed in a drug and alcohol program which he must complete before being released. His maximum date if December 2021.

Matika sentenced him to serve one to 12 months in a state prison on each count, running consecutively, and ordered him to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 100 hours of community service when paroled. The term runs concurrent with the state sentence he is now serving.

Other pleas

Justin M. Paterick

, 31, of Hazleton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, false identification to law enforcement and driving while under suspension - DUI related. He was arrested on Dec. 18, 2017, by Weatherly police along Main Street following a traffic stop.

Paterick has applied for placement in the state’s Intermediate Punishment Program through Luzerne County, where he is currently an inmate.

Matika sentenced him to serve two to four months in prison on the drug and false ID charges with credit for time served, and paroled him. On the suspension count he was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail, with the same credit, and paroled, and pay a fine of $500.

Dennis Joseph Foy

, 36, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance, heroin. He was arrested on March 19 by Palmerton police in the area of 301 Lafayette Ave. Police served an active warrant on him, and when taking him into custody found heroin.

Foy is currently an inmate at the state correctional institution at Laurel Highlands, Somerset County.

Matika sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in prison, concurrent with the state term, and ordered he get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 25 hours of community service. He told the court his maximum date on the state sentence is June 2020.

Matthew John Martin

, 26, of Bowmanstown, pleaded to one count each of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, driving under the influence and two counts of driving under suspension.

He was arrested on the drug count on Sept. 29, 2017, along Route 443 in the area of the Fast Fill Exxon station by Lehighton police. The DUI arrest occurred on July 11, 2017, along Route 248 by Palmerton police. A test revealed the presence of a controlled substance.

He is currently an inmate in the Northampton County prison and is facing charges/probation violations in Lehigh County.

Martin told Matika, “I need help, but I don’t know where to get it.” Martin admitted to an extensive drug addiction problem. He said he is trying to get into a rehabilitation program.

On the drug count Matika sentenced him to serve six to 12 months in prison and on the DUI count, 72 hours to six months in prison. He was given credit for six days served on the DUI charge and paroled. On the drug count he was given credit for 15 days.

On the DUI charge he was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 and one-year license suspension. He was further ordered to render 25 hours of community service when paroled and get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

On the two counts of driving under suspension he was fined a total of $400.

Kelsey Lynn Rimsky

, 21, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a small amount of marijuana. She was arrested on May 14 by state police at Lehighton along Route 209 in Towamensing Township following a traffic stop. Matika imposed a fine of $150.

Roman George Tatarinowicz

, 25, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested on Jan. 25 by Palmerton police following a traffic stop along Route 248.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to render 25 hours of community service. The term runs concurrent to a one year probation sentenced imposed on him in June.

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