Walnutport man given jail term for drug dealing

A Walnutport man was sentenced to a county prison term on Monday after pleading guilty to drug counts.

He entered the plea before Judge Joseph J. Matika.

William Norman Derau, 44, pleaded to one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and theft by deception.

Derau was arrested for the first count on Nov. 12, 2013, along West Bertsch Street in Lansford by agents of the state Attorney General’s office after he sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. In that case he was originally placed in the county’s Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition probation program but was revoked from it after being arrested on the other charges.

The second drug count stems from an April 18, 2018, search of a home on East Ludlow Street in Summit Hill by borough police. Heroin was found in the home. Derau and Elizabeth Garrett were charged. Garrett pleaded to a drug count in the case and is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.

The theft occurred on Dec. 7, 2017, at the Turkey Hill store in Lansford.

Matika sentenced him to serve six to 23 months in prison on the conspiracy count and three to 23 months on the possession charge with the terms running concurrently. On the theft charge he was placed on probation for a year, concurrent with the other counts.

He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, supply a DNA sample, render 75 hours of community service when paroled, make restitution of $19.98 to Turkey Hill and stay out of the store.

He was given credit for 95 days spent in prison to date on the charges.