Trending
The Pennsylvania Superior Court this week rejected an appeal filed by a Roaring Spring man who is serving a minimum prison term of 32.5 years for drug-related offenses.
Jayme Wayne Walter, 45, has been in prison since Aug. 26, 2021, when police learned that he and Erica Lynn Eckert of Altoona had been in Allentown purchasing narcotics for distribution in the Altoona area.
Police stopped Walter's car on the 6400 block of Woodbury Pike and arrested him on a warrant for a parole violation.
During the arrest, two dogs were brought to the scene and detected narcotics in the vehicle.
After obtaining a search warrant, officers examined Walter's vehicle and found six pounds of methamphetamine, 21 grams of fentanyl, a gram of heroin and several ounces of cocaine.
Police estimated the drugs were worth $250,000 on the street.
The search also turned up more than $1,900 in cash and cellphones.
Police determined that Walter and Eckert were upping their supply by traveling to Allentown every two weeks where they would meet with a source bearing the street names of "Mo" or "C."
Walter was charged with multiple offenses including criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in unlawful proceeds and participating in a corrupt organization.
City police added two additional charges of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine stemming from drug sales to an informant that occurred in July 2021.
Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard sentenced Walter to a prison term of 32.5 years to 65 years.
During the sentencing, Walter depicted himself as an "addict who needs help."
Bernard, however, rejected that defense argument, stating, "A person who has massive amounts of drugs in their vehicle is not just an addict. ... Clearly you were in the business."
Walter, through his counsel Scott N. Pletcher, filed a post-sentence motion that included a charge that the judge abused her discretion by imposing an excessive sentence.
The judge denied his post-sentence motions without a hearing.
Walter's defense attorney then appealed her decision, again charging the judge with abuse of discretion for failing to grant Walter a hearing "given the lengthy sentence the court imposed."
A Superior Court panel consisting of Judges Mary Jane Bowes, Deborah A. Kunselman and Mary P. Murray on Wednesday rejected the defense argument.
The Superior Court opinion written by Kunselman emphasized the defense offered no legal support for its conclusion that Walter was entitled to a hearing.
Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure states that the judge is the person who decides if a hearing is to be held, the opinion reported.
The appeals court opinion then stated, "As such, there is no right to a hearing on a post-sentence motion. ... We would conclude that Walter's issue merits no relief."
Walter speculated that Bernard refused to give him a hearing because he previously "acted out" in court and Bernard "did not want to hear him complain about the Commonwealth and his sentence."
Walter was referring to an incident that occurred on the morning he was to select a jury to hear his case.
Upon entering the courtroom he made an "obscene gesture," according to a news report.
He then told the judge he did not wish to attend the trial.
The judge told him if he could not control his behavior, a jury would be selected and the trial would proceed without him. The judge indicated he could be subject to fines after he used foul language in the courtroom.
After the outburst, Walter and his attorney consulted for two hours.
He then decided to enter guilty pleas to the many charges against him.
Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks had initially offered Walter a plea agreement of 25 to 50 years, which he rejected.
Prior to his most recent charges, Walter had a lengthy record of drug-related offenses.
Walter is incarcerated in the State Correctional Institution Forest in Marienville.
His co-conspirator, Eckert, was sentenced to a prison term of 4.5 to 10 years in prison followed by 15 years' probation.
State inmate records show she is participating in a rehabilitation program.