A Lehigh County man was sentenced to a special state program on Monday on drug-dealing charges and avoided a much longer state prison term.

Carbon County Judge Joseph J. Matika went along with the request of Alberto Luis Rivera-Rosario, 21, of Allentown to apply for the state's intermediate punishment program.The program runs for two years and includes the defendant serving time in prison, followed by time in an inpatient rehabilitation program followed by time in a halfway house.Rosario previously pleaded guilty to one count each of criminal attempt to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm without a license. He was arrested on May 15, 2014, by the state police at Hazleton vice unit after he sold heroin to a confidential informant in the area of 516 Franklin Ave. in Palmerton.In one sale he sold 39 bags of heroin and in the second sale, 250 bags. After the second sale he was arrested at the scene and found to have a handgun in his possession.The original plea agreement called for the court to impose a four- to eight-year state prison term. Matika told Rosario, "You are a drug dealer. This is your third conviction in dealing."Matika warned Rosario if he failed to complete the state program, or is "kicked out" of it, he would be brought back and resentenced to the state prison term. Matika added, "You don't get any credit for time spent in the IP when you are resentenced."Matika sentenced him to the two-year term on all counts and ordered he supply a DNA sample.