Carbon drug dealer sentenced to state prison

A Carbon County drug dealer was sentenced to a long state prison term on Tuesday in the county court.

Ryan E. Wurst, 26, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced to serve a total of 24 to 48 months in a state correctional institution by Judge Steven R. Serfass, who rejected a passionate plea from defense counsel for a county prison term or a reduced minimum sentence.

Wurst previously entered guilty pleas to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin, and in another case to flight to avoid apprehension.

He was arrested on the drug count on Oct. 28, 2013, by state police at Lehighton after a search warrant was served on his home at 22 Hopi Road in Penn Forest Township. Found in the home were 46 bags of heroin.

He was arrested on the second charged on Nov. 13, 2013, after state police stopped a vehicle in Weissport in which Wurst was a passenger. Troopers were aware of a warrant for his arrest. He ran from the scene, but was later caught and incarcerated.

Defense attorney Gregory Lee Mousseau, of the public defenders office, asked Serfass to first run the two sentences concurrently.

As an alternative, Mousseau asked Serfass to reduce the recommended sentence made in the presentence investigation report prepared by the adult probation office, by several months. Both requests were denied by Serfass.

Mousseau also read a letter written by Wurst to the court. In it he said after his release from prison on other criminal counts, he began working with his father. He said his father suffered a heart attack and died in his arms one day while at work.

He said that deeply affected him and led him into depression and eventually drug use. He said he became addicted to heroin and then began selling heroin to support his habit.

Serfass said he reviewed the presentence report, listened to what Mousseau said and what Wurst wrote in his letter.

He said "I understand your grief over your father, but I don't think you or your counsel are using his death as an excuse for what you did."

He added, "That is not an excuse. You made poor choices. I also believe the recommendation contained in the adult probation report is appropriate in this case."

On the drug count Serfass sentenced him to serve 14 to 28 months and on the flight to avoid apprehension, 10 to 20 months, with the terms running consecutively.

Serfass also ordered Wurst to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, zero tolerance imposed on D&A use, pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and supply a DNA sample.

He was given credit for 230 days already spent in jail on the charges.