HOLLIDAYSBURG — A city man will serve a five- to 15-year prison sentence for his role in a fatal overdose last year.

Dalton D. Snyder, 31, was charged with selling drugs to Adam Walter, 31, who died from an overdose in May 2023. Walter was found dead in a house along the 100 block of Jones Street in Hollidaysburg. While conducting an autopsy, staff told police there was a blue wax packet and a white wax packet hidden in Walter’s sock. The blue packet tested positive for fentanyl and xylazine. The white packet tested positive for fentanyl.

An investigation led police to charge Snyder with providing the drugs to Walter.

On Friday, Snyder pleaded guilty to one felony count each of drug delivery resulting in death and criminal use of a communication facility, two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance and recklessly endangering another person.

Senior Judge Jolene G. Kopriva accepted the plea agreement that will see Snyder serve a sentence of five to 15 years in a state correctional facility, followed by 10 years’ probation. He also must pay two $100 fines within 48 months of his release.

Snyder has been incarcerated in the Blair County Prison since April 17 and will receive credit for time served.

Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky and Chief Public Defender Russell J. Montgomery agreed Snyder would not be eligible for the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive program.

Montgomery originally requested Snyder’s case be continued to the next available trial date, but after Kopriva said District Attorney Pete Weeks denied Snyder more time, the case was put on hold while other cases were heard until Weeks, who was not in the courtroom, appeared in court. The case belonged to Weeks but was prosecuted by Elensky.

Weeks said the plea deal involved a waiver of eligibility for state drug treatment programs.

“I think we have the ability to go forward if the defendant wants to,” Weeks told Kopriva before leaving the courtroom.

When asked by Kopriva, Snyder said he understood the seriousness of his charges and was satisfied with his legal representation before pleading guilty. Snyder told Kopriva he started using drugs when he was 27 because he was “in with the wrong crowd” and he hopes “to stay clean” once he is released.

“I’m hopeful that maybe you can get some help,” Kopriva replied.

Although Walter’s family were not in attendance when the plea was accepted, Snyder apologized for his involvement in his death. “I just want to apologize,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.