A Carbon County man was sentenced to a long state prison term on Tuesday morning in the county court after a jury convicted him of drug counts and other charges.

Judge Steven R. Serfass sentenced Jason Reed, 45, of Jim Thorpe, to serve a total of four to eight years in a state correctional institution on charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, indecent exposure, possession of a controlled substance (two counts), and possession of drug paraphernalia. On two summary counts of public drunkenness and disorderly conduct, he was fined a total of $600.

A jury convicted Reed of the charges on Feb. 4 following a one-day trial. Reed represented himself at the trial while the commonwealth was represented by special assistant District Attorney Gary F. Dobias. Attorney Gregory Lee Mousseau, chief public defender, was appointed standby counsel for Reed by Serfass for the trial.

Reed asked Serfass for leniency, telling the court, “I’m a drug addict, not a drug dealer.” He claimed at the time of his arrest there was no evidence that he sold any drugs to anyone. However, based on the amount of drugs he had on him at the time of the incident, which was determined to be 5 grams of methamphetamine, and state law, it was a sufficient amount that would be used for sale.

Reed also argued that he has been a drug addict for many years and has asked for help in the past but got none.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo said Reed should be sentenced to the term called for in state sentencing guidelines based on the amount of drugs he had on him at the time. Gazo also noted that Reed was arrested on the charges in about 24 hours after his release from jail on parole after serving time in another criminal case.

Serfass said he could not ignore the fact that Reed “spent a lifetime of committing crimes.” Serfass said Reed does need help with a drug addiction, and the type of help he needs can only be found in the state prison system. Serfass said Reed was a “repeat felon.” He said he had to consider all the factors, the gravity of the offenses, his rehabilitative needs, his prior record and for the protection of the public.

Trial testimony

Officer John Pruitte, of the Jim Thorpe police, was the prosecutor in the case. He testified that on March 12, 2019, about 11 p.m. he received a dispatch from the county communications center of a male masturbating in the middle of the street. The incident occurred at the intersection of North and Spruce avenues.

Upon arrival, the officer observed a male lying half in the street and half on the curb and grass area with his underwear and pants down to his knees, exposing his private parts. He approached the male, who he identified as Reed.

He said, “He actually appeared to be sleeping.”

As he was attempting to wake Reed up, Sgt. Michael Bokeko arrived and assisted in getting Reed to his feet. He said Reed appeared to be unconscious when he first attempted to get him up.

Once on his feet, the officers pulled up his underwear and pants, handcuffed him and took him to the police cruiser. As Pruitte was reaching inside the cruiser, he observed a plastic baggie fall to the floor of the cruiser. He immediately identified it as a controlled substance.

Pruitte said this led to him and Bokeko going to where they initially found Reed and searching the area. The officers found two more baggies similar to the one they had found in the cruiser. Pruitte added that Reed was somewhat unruly as they attempted to place him in the cruiser.

Reed did not testify at the trial and told the jury in his closing argument, “My intention was to raise doubt.”

Serfass also ordered Reed to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, pay court costs of about $1,000 and supply a DNA sample.

Reed disputed the adult probation office report that he was not entitled to any credit against his sentence for time in jail. Reed said he has been in prison since his arrest in March 2019. However, Gazo said after he was arrested, the probation office said the time spent in prison was for violating his parole on other charges.

Serfass said he would look into it, and if Reed was entitled to any credit he would amend his sentencing order to reflect the time.

The proceeding was held via video conference with Reed in the county prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in the courtroom were court personnel including a stenographer, clerk of courts office representative, tipstaff, sheriff deputy, a probation officer, an assistant district attorney, and the attorney representing the defendant.