Drug trafficker gets 5 to 10 years

Castro tells judge he is making life changes after meth conviction

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Blair County man who said he sold drugs to support his own habit was sentenced Thursday to five to 10 years in prison.

Joseph M. Castro Jr., 40, convicted by a jury in April of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and related offenses, told President Judge Elizabeth Doyle that he has been going through a period of self discovery and is changing.

"I'm not going to squander my time in prison," Castro said. "I thank God for the chance to show my family and friends that I can change."

Castro, an inmate at the county prison with additional drug and non-drug charges pending, initially struggled in court to speak and described himself as nervous.

When he did speak, he advised the judge that he's engaging daily in prayer and meditation that's making a difference in his life.

"I feel a lot freer than I did … even though I'm here in shackles," Castro said.

During his trial in April, Castro testified on his own behalf and failed to convince the jury that 10 ounces of methamphetamine and 80.29 grams of marijuana found in a backpack didn't belong to him.

Altoona police seized the drugs -- valued at about $28,000 -- on June 29, 2021, when searching a residence on the 100 block of East Pleasant Valley Boulevard. While police had gone to the residence with a warrant for Jonathan Lovell, who lived there, they also found and arrested Castro because of an outstanding warrant.

District Attorney Pete Weeks, who prosecuted the case, asked the jury to reject Castro's claim that the drugs in the backpack belonged to Lovell. The backpack also contained Castro's laptop and a photo of a woman signed "Castro's girl."

In court Thursday, Weeks described Castro as "a significant trafficker of methamphetamine in Blair County" with a criminal history showing 17 arrests and 10 convictions, leading to five periods of incarceration in both state and county prisons.

Weeks also said outside court that Castro was the first person in Blair County to be arrested with pills containing fentanyl. Because the pills were believed to be oxycodone, Weeks said they weren't initially sent for testing. While later test results revealed the fentanyl content, Weeks said the results were too late to include in the trial and the relevant charge had to be withdrawn.

"If he's sincere about changing, that would be good for him and everyone else in the community," Weeks said.

Defense attorney Mark Zearfaus appealed to Doyle to consider Castro's remarks when imposing a sentence.

"I believe Joe will be a better person," Zearfaus said.

Doyle, who presided over Castro's jury trial, told him she considered his remarks to be heartfelt but had to impose a lengthy sentence in light of his convictions and criminal history.

"You'll still be a young man when you get out," the judge said.

Court records show Castro's additional pending cases are scheduled for review and potentially jury selection in October.

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