CLEARFIELD – A jury of seven women and five men deliberated for approximately 30 minutes Friday morning before convicting a Philadelphia man of selling marijuana and cocaine to an undercover agent from an apartment at 102 Quarry Ave., DuBois, in February and March of this year. Clearfield County Judge Paul E. Cherry presided over the three-day trial.
Vernon Duncan, 26, of Philadelphia was found guilty of seven counts each of criminal conspiracy/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy/possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. He was also found guilty of four counts of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.
For two, different charges related to the possession with intent to deliver cocaine, jurors found Duncan had 2 grams to less than 10 grams during the March 4 drug buy and 10 grams to less than 100 grams when the search warrant was executed on March 5. Jurors also found that Duncan had firearms in close proximity to marijuana and cocaine.
The charges stem from Duncan selling marijuana and cocaine to an undercover agent from the state Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Drug Control on Feb. 5, Feb. 14 and March 4. Then, on March 5 agents and police officers from the county’s Drug Task Force searched the Quarry Avenue apartment and seized marijuana, cocaine, firearms, numerous items of drug paraphernalia and U.S. Currency.
Duncan is facing a minimum of 13 years of incarceration. The judge, however, will decide what sentences will be consecutive or concurrent and set Duncan’s maximum sentence, according to Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr., who tried the case for the commonwealth.
He said Duncan’s prior record of dealing drugs, as well as the weight of the drugs involved in this case and the fact Duncan possessed firearms only enhances the mandatory sentencing. Theoretically, he said, Duncan could spend a lot of time incarcerated.
Duncan’s co-defendant, Damon Seldon, is facing similar charges and is scheduled for jury section Aug. 8, said Shaw. He said Seldon was willing to testify at Duncan’s trial, but he opposed to “making any deals” in the case with it involving mandatory sentencing.
“I think this case sends a message to the drug dealers in our area,” said Shaw. “I’m proud of the jury. I think their verdict reflects their frustration and anger and that they’re tired of this type of activity in their community.”
He thanked Attorney General Kathleen Kane for equipping the county’s Drug Task Force with a full-time coordinator to investigate drug activity. He said the AG’s office, the police officers from DuBois City and Lawrence Township and the Pennsylvania State Police K-9 Unit put together a well-developed case.
“They didn’t just get marijuana, but also large amounts of cocaine,” said Shaw, estimating the street value of the drugs found during the search was in the tens of thousands. “This case sends the message that we’re not just going to sit back and take it. We’re going to fight back against drug dealers.”
