HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Roaring Spring man arrested a year ago with illegal drugs valued at $250,000 — including six pounds of methamphetamine — rendered guilty pleas Wednesday that are likely to keep him incarcerated for more than 20 years.

Jayme Wayne Walter, 43, who has been in the county prison since Aug. 26, 2021, was supposed to go on trial Wednesday in Blair County Court.

Instead, Walter put his future in the hands of Judge Jackie Bernard, who accepted his guilty pleas to all drug-trafficking offenses and set Walter’s sentencing for Nov. 28.

Defense attorney Scott N. Pletcher said his client is probably looking at 20 years’ incarceration.

“The decision to plead is his,” Pletcher told Bernard in court. “He made this decision on his own.”

Prior to jury selection, District Attorney Pete Weeks proposed a plea agreement to resolve Walter’s charges with guilty pleas to select offenses in exchange for 25 to 50 years’ incarceration. But Walters rejected the offer and confirmed in court Wednesday that he wasn’t interested.

“He certainly is looking at more now,” Weeks said after court concluded.

Pletcher can also ask the judge to consider imposing less.

Bernard directed the attorneys to submit sentencing memorandums for her review prior to the Nov. 28 sentencing.

The judge said they should include state sentencing guidelines, restitution, credit for time served and address Walter’s eligibility for the state’s drug treatment program, boot camp and early release through the state’s Recidivism Risk Reduction Initiative for less violent offenders.

Weeks said he will oppose Walter’s consideration for those state prison programs.

“This is someone who is incorrigible,” Weeks said. “He’s been in state prison. And he was on state parole when arrested in what was probably the largest seizure of methamphetamine inside this county.”

An investigation by Altoona police and agents with the state Attorney General’s Office identified Walter and Erica Lynn Eckert, 44, of Altoona, as two people who were buying drugs in the Allentown area for distribution in Blair County.

On Aug. 26, 2021, after learning that the couple had been in Allentown, officers tracked and stopped Walter’s vehicle on the 6400 block of the Woodbury Pike.

They arrested Walter on a warrant for a probation violation.

Then based on the reaction of two dogs capable of detecting narcotics, police applied for a search warrant to look at his vehicle’s contents.

In addition to six pounds of methamphetamine, officers reported seizing 4.6 ounces of cocaine, 21 grams of fentanyl, a gram of heroin, cellphones and $1,901 in cash.

Weeks said the investigation revealed that this amount of drugs, with a street value of $250,000, would have been sold in Blair County in a two-week period.

Criminal charges indicate that Walter and Eckert were securing drugs in an Allentown area motel from a Puerto Rican man they knew as “C” or “Mo.”

Police also filed drug-trafficking charges against Eckert who is currently scheduled to render guilty pleas in court on Sept. 30.

Walter rendered pleas to all charges – including criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin, criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in unlawful proceeds and participation in a corrupt organization — filed after the Aug. 26, 2021, traffic stop.

Walter’s guilty pleas also addressed possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and related charges Altoona police filed against him for sales on July 8, 2021, and July 15, 2021.

Walter’s entry of the pleas occurred late Wednesday morning in the courtroom where he started the day by making an obscene gesture.

Bernard, who hadn’t yet summoned the jury into the courtroom, told Walter that if didn’t control his behavior, she could have him removed and his trial would proceed without him.

Walter, who spoke of his desire not to attend his trial, began using foul language, prompting the judge to threaten him with fines. Walter yelled out in response that he didn’t care because he was going to be in jail.

After taking more than two hours to consult with Pletcher, Walter told the judge that he wanted to render guilty pleas to all charges.

Walter said he came to that decision on his own and that his actions were in his own best interest. Bernard asked Walter for assurance that he knew what he was doing and Walter said he did.

Because two prior jury selection procedures were halted after Walter complained about his prior court-appointed attorney, Bernard asked for assurance that Walter was satisfied with Pletcher’s representation. He said he was.

Weeks also asked Walter to confirm his familiarity with the guilty plea process based on prior offenses that were addressed by entering pleas.

“This is not your first drug crime,” Weeks said.

Walter nodded his head and said he agreed.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.