Clarion Cocaine Dealer Gets County Jail Time

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion man who repeatedly sold cocaine to undercover officers was sentenced to spend time in the Clarion County Jail.

President Judge James Arner sentenced 21-year-old Devin Atma Soberdhan, of Clarion, to serve a minimum of nine months and a maximum of 23 months, 29 days.

Judge Arner also ordered Soberdhan to pay all fines and costs, comply with all treatment plans, perform 50 hours of community service. In addition, he is not allowed to consume any drugs or alcohol. He must also submit a DNA sample.

Soberdhan received credit for six days time served.

Soberdhan pleaded guilty on January 3 to four felony counts of the manufacture, delivery, or possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver.

Soberdhan’s defense attorney, Michael Marshall, sought leniency for his client, sharing letters of support from the man’s employer and grandparents.

“He got away from home and made some bad choices, sold to a confidential informant, a friend of his. He wasn’t selling drugs at random,” Marshall said.

Nevertheless, Assistant District Attorney Drew Welsh was quick to point out, “You just don’t stumble onto cocaine. He was a drug dealer.”

In addition, the criminal complaint detailing charges against Soberdhan indicated he had made the drug deals with an undercover police officer.

Soberdhan was taken into custody by the county sheriff’s department and taken to the county jail.

Case details:

The charges stemmed from a controlled drug buy on March 1, 2017, according to a criminal complaint.

Soberdhan and an undercover officer exchanged text messages in which Soberdhan agreed to sell approximately three grams of cocaine to the undercover officer in exchange for $300.00. Later that evening, the undercover officer arrived at Soberdhan’s residence where four other individuals were present.

“I made small talk with others in the house while (Soberdhan) went into a bedroom area located just off the living room,” said the undercover officer in the criminal complaint.

“(Soberdhan) came back into the living room and he handed me a plastic baggie with what appeared to be approximately three grams of cocaine.”

The undercover officer then gave Soberdhan $300.00 in exchange for the cocaine.

“(Soberdhan) told me if I needed any more to get a hold of him.”

The substance tested positive for cocaine and was logged into evidence at the Punxsutawney State Police barracks.

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