Lehigh County man gets state prison term for drug dealing

A Lehigh County man was sentenced on Friday in Carbon County court to a state prison term on a drug-dealing charge for which he previously entered a guilty plea.

Jose Alberto Echevarria, 39, of Allentown, was sentenced by Judge Joseph J. Matika to serve six to 24 months in a state correctional institution after previously pleading guilty to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was arrested following two traffic stops. The term was imposed on each count, running concurrently.

Echevarria was arrested on Oct. 11, 2016, along the turnpike in Kidder Township when drugs were found. The second arrest occurred on Feb. 26, 2017, along Interstate 80 in East Side Borough. State police at Fern Ridge made the I-80 arrest, and troopers from the Pocono barracks made the turnpike stop. In both cases marijuana was the drug found.

Echevarria does not have a drug problem, but a presentence investigation report prepared by the adult probation office indicated he sold drugs to make “easy money.”

In addition to the prison term, Echevarria was ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance for drug or alcohol use, supply a DNA sample, and when paroled render 75 hours of community service.

He was given credit for six days already served and began the term immediately.