CLEARFIELD — Thomas M. Harris, 25, of DuBois, who was caught selling methamphetamine, was sentenced to prison by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman last week at Clearfield County Colloquy Court.
Harris pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance/methamphetamine — ungraded felony and would receive a minimum of nine months in prison, according to Assistant District Attorney Brittany McCracken.
Harris’ attorney Michael Marshall of DuBois said he disagreed with the probation department’s recommendation that Harris be sent to state prison.
Marshall said Harris has little prior record and said he was only caught with a small amount of methamphetamine, roughly 3.5 grams.
Marshall said Harris has a job working in construction and asked that he be sentenced to the county jail so he could get work release and continue to work.
Marshall said that if Harris violates his probation, the court has the option to send him to state prison.
“He wants a chance to prove himself,” Marshall said.
McCracken argued that Harris be sentenced to state prison noting that he has two charges of possession with intent to deliver.
Ammerman sentenced Harris to serve a minimum of nine months and a maximum of two years minus two days in the Clearfield County Jail.
Marshall asked if Harris could get a delayed commitment to report to the jail so he could have some time to set up work release prior to being incarcerated so he wouldn’t miss any work.
Ammerman said he would agree to a delayed commitment but only if Harris passes a drug test.
Harris was drug tested and tested positive for methamphetamine. Harris admitted to using methamphetamine five days ago.
Ammerman said he was surprised and disappointed by the results and ordered Harris committed immediately to the Clearfield County Jail.
Ammerman noted that even if he knew Harris was positive for methamphetamine prior to sentencing him, he still would have sentenced him to CCJ.
According to court documents, in August 2023, the DuBois City Police Drug and Vice Unit established a surveillance at an East Weber Avenue residence in order to determine if Harris was there. A man wearing a helmet and goggles was observed by an officer exiting the front door of the residence, proceeding to leave on an off-road motorcycle.
Police conducted a traffic stop on the motorcycle near South Highland Street. The driver was identified as Harris, who was told to push the motorcycle back to the residence, as it was reportedly not properly registered, insured and inspected.
Police gathered near the front of the East Weber Avenue residence as Harris returned, as there was an active warrant for him confirmed by Clearfield County Control. Harris had allegedly been a drug trafficking suspect of the DuBois City Police Drug and Vice Unit in the past. Harris told police that his girlfriend, Kayleigh Mae Huzsek, 30, of DuBois was also at the residence, as well as another woman. Consent was given to police to search the residence.
In Harris’ bedroom, police located various drug consumption devices, digital scales, preparation and packaging materials, and a handwritten drug ledger of drug debts and sales, as well as a quantity of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Police conducted an interview with Harris, questioning him on his documented drug transactions, distribution network and supply sources. Harris admitted to selling methamphetamine as recently as two days prior. Harris also said that Huzsek had been assisting him with the drug ledger bookkeeping, and that she had “got rid of” some quantity of methamphetamine, according to the affidavit of probable cause, which means that she had allegedly sold the substance.
In November 2023, the Pennsylvania State Police Erie Regional Crime Lab produced the findings of the submitted evidence items –two sealed envelopes containing two plastic bags with a white plastic bottle/white lid that contained an off-white crystalline substance, which was determined to be .61 grams and .03 grams of methamphetamine.
Huzsek is also charged with two felony counts of the manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; one felony count of conspiracy –manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; one count of possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor and one misdemeanor count of the use/possession of drug paraphernalia. Her case has not yet been resolved.
