CLEARFIELD – Two men found with large amounts of drugs in separate incidents apologized during their sentencing hearings Monday.
Jonathan Morales, 36, of DuBois was stopped by DuBois City police on May 16 after an officer saw the vehicle driven by Morales leaving the parking lot of a motel without using a turn signal.
Officers found 229.37 grams of marijuana, 665 stamp bags of suspected heroin, 51.57 grams of methamphetamine, 33.79 grams of cocaine, 20 Xanax pills and 16 loaded syringes along with $9,000 in the vehicle, according to the report.
In addition, Morales had five grams of methamphetamine in his pocket.
He pleaded guilty to five felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance for which President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman sentenced him to a total of six to 12 years in state prison with 12 months consecutive probation.
In a letter written by Morales and read by Ammerman, he apologized for his behavior and admitted he had made some “poor decisions” that he wished he could take back.
In June, Charles Aaron Best, 37, of Erie was in a vehicle that was stopped because it was traveling only 15 mph in a 35-mph zone. After it was discovered he had an active warrant, he was detained and searched.
DuBois City police found the vehicle contained 584 grams of methamphetamine, 24 grams of raw marijuana, 24 grams of suspected cocaine and heroin, as well as a battery that contained 22 pills, according to the affidavit.
Best had $818 in cash in his pockets.
He pleaded guilty to three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, five counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ammerman sentenced him to a total of six to 12 years in state prison followed by 12 months probation.
Prior to sentencing, Best apologized to his daughters and family for making promises he “couldn’t keep” and for starting to use drugs again.
