A New Ringgold man arrested for driving while his operator’s privileges were suspended or revoked will serve 72 hours to six months in Schuylkill County Prison, according to a sentence imposed by Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin March 12.

Nevin S. Holben

, 23, New Ringgold was arrested April 21, 2018, by Rush Township police officer Michael Weaver and charged with driving while operator’s privileges were suspended or revoked. Weaver also charged Holben with use or possession of controlled substance and intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered.

On March 12, Holben withdrew a prior not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to a DUI/controlled substance charge stemming from an arrest May 18, 2014, by officer Adam Stinton, Rush Township police. Holben’s sentence for the 2018 charge will run concurrent with his sentence from the 2014 charge. He must also pay a $1,000 fine, plus $50 to the CJEA, $25 to EMS, a $50 bench warrant fee, $100 to the substance abuse education fund, $75 to MCARE and additional costs of $460.

Holben must obtain outpatient substance abuse counseling and serve 10 hours community service.

A St. Clair man arrested twice on possession charges received a county prison sentence from Baldwin on March 20.

Timothy A. Reed

, 33, was arrested Feb. 19, 2018, by New Philadelphia police officer Matt Williams and charged with intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and a violation of turning movement with required signals.

Reed was sentenced to 30 days to 12 months on the possession charge and must pay fines of $102 on the turn signal violation charge. The use or possession of drug paraphernalia charge was dropped.

Reed was arrested May 11, 2018, by Tamaqua police officer Rick Bekesy and charged with intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

On the possession charge, Reed will be on strict probation for 18 months. He must pay $100 to the substance abuse education fund, $50 to the CJEA and a $50 per month supervision fee. The other two charges from that arrest were dropped.

IPP

Also on March 20, Baldwin admitted two defendants into the Intermediate Punishment program:

Owen M. Berezwick

, 45, Barnesville, was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police-Frackville trooper Michael Pahira April 6, 2017, and charged with DUI/general impairment, DUI/highest rates, disregard of traffic lanes, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and failure to use safety belt (driver and occupant).

For the DUI/highest rate charge, Berezwick will be on Intermediate Punishment for five years, which includes a minimum of 24 months, with the first 12 months on house arrest with electronic surveillance. His license will be suspended for 18 months, followed by 12 months on ignition interlock.

He must pay a fine of $2,500, $300 to the MCARE fund, $100 to the substance abuse education fund, $60 to Lehigh Valley Health Network, $12 per month supervision fee while on house arrest and $50 supervision fee upon completion of house arrest. He must attend outpatient treatment and perform 30 hours community service.

His fines for the disregard traffic lanes and safety belt violations total $199. The charges of DUI/general impairment, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving were dropped.

Alexander Elchisak

, 20, Kelayres, was arrested April 1, 2018, and charged with DUI/controlled substance, DUI/controlled substance schedule 1, DUI/controlled substance metabolite, possession of a small amount of marijuana, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of required lamps while windshield wipers on, and possession of marijuana.

On the DUI/controlled substance charge, Elchisak will be on house arrest for 15 days, followed by 45 days supervision and four months on probation. The other DUI charges are merged with the first charge.

He must pay a fine of $1,000, plus $400 to Lehigh Valley Health Network, $100 to the substance abuse education fund, $75 to MCARE fund and $50 a month supervision fee after house arrest. His license will be suspended for 12 months. He must complete alcohol highway safety school, attend and complete outpatient treatment and perform 10 hours community service. Fines and fees for the remaining charges total $102. The possession of a small amount of marijuana charge was dropped.