Carbon man given state prison term on drug-dealing charge

A Carbon County man was sentenced to a state prison term on Friday on a drug-dealing charge and other counts.

Anthony S. Thorpe, 30, of Nesquehoning, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve a total of one to two years in a state correctional institution followed by one year of state probation. Thorpe previously pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and retail theft in separate incidents.

Thorpe was arrested on the paraphernalia charge on June 30, 2016, by Nesquehoning police following a drug transaction.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Nesquehoning officer Timothy Wuttke, on June 30 the Carbon County detective contacted the department in regard to an ongoing investigation that started earlier in the day during a traffic stop in Lansford.

During that stop, Nesquehoning Chief Sean Smith said that the occupants of that vehicle, who have not been named, provided information that led police to the parking lot of Redner’s Warehouse Market.

The affidavit states Terence Moore, 30, of Lansford, was at Redner’s for the purpose of selling methamphetamine to a witness in the store.

Moore was reportedly communicating with the witness via Facebook Messenger.

The county detective and Jim Thorpe police conducted surveillance at Redner’s and identified Moore in a Chevrolet Silverado, as well as another man, later identified as Thorpe, in the passenger seat.

Nesquehoning police arrived at Redner’s and stopped Moore as he was walking into the store while other officials detained Thorpe in the truck.

A search of the truck was conducted and police found a light blue backpack containing Moore’s identification and 73 bags of heroin, two baggies of heroin, a digital scale, six syringes and several plastic bags used to package drugs.

Also inside the truck, police found another baggie with crystal meth, 15 additional bags of heroin and more plastic bags used for packaging drugs.

In exchange for the plea in that case, the district attorney’s office dropped charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy against Thorpe.

In the case in which he pleaded to the possession with intent to deliver count, he was arrested on May 30 by Lansford police for an incident in the 300 block of East Abbott Street.

Police went to the residence on another matter and found Thorpe in the home.

Also in plain view was baggies of heroin and $300 in cash.

Thorpe admitted the items were his.

The retail theft incident occurred on May 8 at Boyer’s Market in Lansford. Thorpe and a co-defendant were involved in a theft at the store.

Thorpe told Matika he would like to get into a rehabilitation program, adding, “I have nothing left.”

Matika imposed the prison term on the possession with intent to deliver charge and the probation term on the other two counts.

Thorpe was also ordered to get both drug and alcohol and mental health evaluations, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, supply a DNA sample, pay court costs of about $1,000, make restitution of $15.34, and render 100 hours of community service when released on parole.

He was given credit for 149 days already spent in jail on the charges.

Moore pleaded guilty on Sept. 28 to his part in the incident to a charge of possession with intent and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 21.