A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term on Tuesday on four drug-dealing charges, after the presiding judge rejected a plea from his legal counsel and parents for a county sentence.

Mitchell Andrew Peters, 22, of Albrightsville, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve a total of two to four years in a state correctional institution.

He previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon - brass knuckles.

Arrests

He was arrested on Aug. 10, 2018, by state police at Fern Ridge following a traffic stop at Route 903 and Old Stage Road in Penn Forest Township. Heroin was the drug involved.

He was arrested on June 14, 2018, by state police following an incident at a residence in Penn Forest Township. Troopers responded to an overdose report. At the home officers found $3,000 in cash, along with various illegal substances including methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana. Another arrest occurred on Sept. 2, 2018, following a vehicle stop by state police in Penn Forest Township. Peters was a passenger in the vehicle and was found with seven bags of heroin. He also admitted to troopers to throwing other drugs out of the car before being stopped. The final arrest occurred on Sept. 8, 2018, along Old Stage Road in Penn Forest Township following a vehicle stop. Peters was a passenger in the vehicle and 188 bags of heroin and other drugs were found.

Peters admitted to using a brick of heroin a day at one time during his addiction.

He told Serfass, “I take full responsibility. I’ve been using drugs for about five years.”

He said he was selling drugs to support his own habit.

Both his parents read statements to the court asking that Peters remain in the county prison, where he has been an inmate since his arrest.

Serfass said, “I agree this is a sad and troubling case.” He said Peters’ life was very different just a couple of years ago before his drug addiction.

Serfass added, he had to consider all the facts in the case and the seriousness of the crimes involved and the defendant’s need for help with his habit. Serfass said the state system offers the best avenue for Peters to get the help he needs and hoped that the defendant would apply for placement in the state drug treatment program when he reaches the state prison.

Serfass also ordered Peters to supply a DNA sample, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use and pay court costs of about $1,000.

He was given credit for a total of 199 days already spent in prison on the charges.