HONESDALE – A serial drug dealer could spend up to seven years in state prisonafter being sentenced by Wayne County President Judge Janine Edwards on Thursday.
Richard Garth Weiss, 46, of Honesdale, pleaded guilty to a felony count of Possession With Intent to Deliver Heroin (PWID) and was ordered to spend at least 28 months in the State Correctional Institution.
According to Wayne County District Attorney Patrick Robinson, “Richard Garth Weiss is a sure enough For Profit Drug Dealer. He has a Criminal History of 7 prior convictions, including 3 prior Felony Convictions, spanning 26 years. This Defendant richly deserves the sentence he received today. The distribution of Heroin must be dealt with severely.
On April 30, at approximately 12:14 am, the PA State Police pulled over a vehicle in Salem Township for a minor vehicle violation. The Defendant Weiss was a passenger in the vehicle. The State Police observed a hypodermic needle at the feet of the Defendant.
When Weiss got out of the vehicle he attempted to run away. He was chased by the State Police and ultimately tackled. The Defendant was found to be in possession of 92 unopened heroin packets. A subsequent search of the Defendant’s cell phone revealed several text messages requesting narcotics from the Defendant.
DA Robinson noted, “The Pennsylvania State Police are to be congratulated for their alert and professional investigation.”