Six defendants in pending criminal cases entered guilty pleas before Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika.

Assaults father

A Weatherly man admitted assaulting his father in a disturbance at the father’s home.

Harold Lowery McNatt, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault in exchange for a felony count of aggravated assault being dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

On Jan. 12 borough police responded to Carbon Street, for a domestic complaint. On scene officers were informed that McNatt had pushed his father and struck him.

McNatt admitted to mental health issues.

Matika placed him on probation for two years and ordered him to get a mental health evaluation, render 50 hours of community service, make restitution to his father for $5,238.50, supply a DNA sample and have no contact with his father.

Other pleas

Erika Hoffman, 27, of Harrisburg, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance.

She was arrested on Oct. 14, 2020, by Weatherly police at the Dollar General Store where police responded for a report of a retail theft. That charge was dropped in a plea deal.

Hoffman told the court she spent 110 days in an inpatient rehabilitation drug program and is currently living in a recovery house in Harrisburg. The program is administered by the Salvation Army.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, noting the report from the Salvation Army would satisfy that requirement, and render 50 hours of community service.

Cory A. Young, 23, of Emmaus, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance.

He was arrested on Dec. 24, 2020, by Franklin Township police at Mooney’s Motel along State Road. He was found with drugs in his possession when police responded to an unwanted person report. Methamphetamine was found at the scene.

He was placed on probation for a year and ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and render 50 hours of community service.

Michael K. Strohl, 44, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of DUI and driving under suspension - DUI related.

He was arrested on Jan. 12 by state police at Lehighton along Bank Street in Bowmanstown, for DUI of a controlled substance.

Strohl is currently an inmate in the county prison on a probation violation.

Sentencing was deferred so he can obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Sara Ann Mertz, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of access device fraud. A felony 2 count of forgery was dropped in a plea deal with the DA’s office.

She was charged by Franklin Township police for taking the check of a township couple.

She spent 27 days in an inpatient rehab program and six days in jail on the charge.

Matika placed her on probation for a year and ordered her to render 50 hours of community service and have no contact with the victims.

Jason Dwayne Hettler, 45, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count of possession of a controlled substance. In exchange for the plea a felony 2 count of contraband into the prison was dropped in a plea deal.

He was arrested on Sept. 17, 2014, by Nesquehoning police at the county prison. He was brought to the prison on a warrant and while being processed drugs were found on his person. There were 15 continuances in the case.

Matika placed him on probation for a year and ordered he render 50 hours of community service.

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