Brian R. Specht will go to state prison after admitting Monday in Schuylkill County Court that he possessed a salable amount of methamphetamine in May 2015 in Mahanoy City.
Specht 47, of Pottsville, who had been scheduled to go on trial Monday before a jury and Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, instead pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension-DUI related.
Russell accepted Specht’s plea and sentenced him to serve two to four years in a state correctional institution and an additional five years on probation, pay costs, a $500 fine, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, perform 40 hours community service and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.
She made the prison sentence consecutive to one of six to 16 months Specht had received Thursday in another case.
“I am extremely concerned about people delivering drugs,” Russell said. “I do appreciate the fact that you came in here and admitted your guilt.”
Mahanoy City police charged Specht with possessing five bags of methamphetamine, 27 clear plastic baggies, a digital scale and a metal mixing spoon at 4:10 p.m. May 15, 2015, in his vehicle on West Mahanoy Avenue in the borough. Police also said Specht was driving at the time with a license that had been suspended as a result of a driving under the influence case.
Specht acknowledged he has substance abuse woes.
“I had a problem with alcohol,” he told Russell. “Then, I switched to methamphetamine.”
Even Specht’s lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, knows his client is in trouble.
“A state sentence might help him overcome mental health issues and drug addiction issues,” he said. “He appears to be somebody who needs help.”
After sentencing Specht, Russell brought the jurors back into the courtroom to tell them what had occurred.
“You should not feel your service wasn’t necessary,” Russell told them. “Had you not been here ... Mr. Specht would not have pled guilty.”
Specht’s legal troubles are not over.
He is scheduled to go on trial at 9 a.m. today before another jury and Judge James P. Goodman on charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment. State police at Schuylkill Haven allege he committed those crimes on July 23, 2015, in Norwegian Township.
Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith is prosecuting the case, while Watkins again is representing Specht.
Defendant: Brian R. Specht
Age: 47
Residence: Pottsville
Crimes committed: Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension-DUI related
Prison sentence: Two to four years in a state correctional institution and an additional five years on probation consecutive to current sentence