Instead of taking her case to trial, a Pottsville woman admitted Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court that prosecutors could prove she was driving under the influence of drugs last August in her hometown.
Cindy Weikel, 56, pleaded no contest to a charge of DUI.
Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin, who was to have presided over Weikel's trial on Tuesday, instead accepted her plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced her to spend one to five years in a state correctional institution.
Dolbin also sentenced Weikel to pay costs, a $2,500 fine, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $460 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. The judge made the sentence effective at 10 a.m. May 9.
By pleading guilty, Weikel did not admit committing the crime but offered no defense to it, admitted prosecutors had sufficient evidence to prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if she had pleaded or been found guilty.
"It has the exact same effect as a plea of guilty," Dolbin told Weikel.
Pottsville police had alleged Weikel was DUI on Aug. 16, 2013, in the city.
After Weikel and her lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, and Assistant District Attorney Robert I. Lipkin had left the courtroom, Dolbin called in the jury that was to have heard the case and thanked them for their service, saying it was not in vain in spite of their not having heard the case.
"Without your being here, she probably would not have changed her plea," Dolbin told the jurors.
On Monday in the county court, prosecutors withdrew charges against two defendants.
Carlos J. Martinez, 30, of Kelayres, had been charged with conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property. Kline Township police alleged he committed those crimes on May 15, 2013, in the township.
Samantha Wagenhurst, 31, of Tamaqua, had been charged with conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and driving under suspension. Kline Township police also alleged she committed those crimes on May 15, 2013, in the township.
In each case, President Judge William E. Baldwin signed an order allowing prosecutors to withdraw the charges and directing the defendant to pay the costs of the case.
Also on Monday, Dolbin revoked the probation of Kevin A. Smith, 25, of Schuylkill Haven, and sentenced him to serve two to 12 months in a state correctional institution consecutive to another sentence he is serving.
Dolbin imposed that sentence after revoking Smith's probation, which the defendant had admitted violating.
Smith originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 19, 2007, to defiant trespass, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of criminal trespass. At that time, Dolbin sentenced him to spend 12 months on probation and pay costs.
Pottsville police charged Smith with trespassing on July 18, 2007, on a property in the city.
Also in Schuylkill County Court, a Mahanoy City motorist admitted Thursday that he drove under the influence of alcohol in March 2013 in Shenandoah.
William J. Mooney, 43, pleaded guilty to DUI instead of taking his case to trial.
Judge Charles M. Miller, who had been scheduled to preside over Mooney's nonjury trial, accepted his plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to spend six months on probation.
Miller also sentenced Mooney to pay costs, a $300 fine, $100 to the SAEF and $460 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, and perform 10 hours community service.
"We can't tolerate" the effects of DUI cases, Miller said.
Shenandoah police charged Mooney with DUI to the extent that he was incapable of safe driving on March 5, 2013, in the borough. No accident occurred and no was one hurt as a result on Mooney's DUI, police said.
Mooney said he understood his plea and that it was a knowing and voluntary one.
Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith prosecuted the case, while Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins represented Mooney.
Also in the county court, Mark K. Scheitrum, 27, of Tamaqua, pleaded guilty on April 3 to accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property and failure to stop and give information and render aid. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.
Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted Scheitrum's plea and sentenced him to serve 12 months on probation and pay costs, a $25 fine, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $2,214.47 restitution.
State police at Frackville had charged Scheitrum with being involved in, and leaving the scene of, an accident on April 28, 2013, in Walker Township.
Also in the county court, prosecutors withdrew charges of disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and terroristic threats against Lance Lane, 22, of Shenandoah.
Mahanoy City police filed both sets of charges against Lane.
In one case, they alleged he was drunk and disorderly, while in the other they alleged he had made threats. Each case arose on Sept. 4, 2012, in the borough, police said.
President Judge William E. Baldwin signed an order on April 3 allowing prosecutors to drop both cases against Lane, while ordering him to pay the costs in each.