Sentencing of former corrections officer on hold

McGeary unaware charge carries mandatory 2 years in prison

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The sentencing of a former Blair County Prison corrections officer charged in October 2023 as part of a drug-smuggling scheme was put on hold Friday.

Caleb J. McGeary, 34, Claysburg, who asked for a probationary sentence, told President Judge Wade A. Kagarise that he wasn't aware that one of his charges -- possession of contraband -- carried a mandatory minimum sentence of two years' incarceration.

Kagarise, who responded by allowing McGeary time to consult with defense attorney Robert Donaldson, subsequently put the sentencing on hold so McGeary could consider his options, including withdrawal of his pleas to negotiate a sentence or go to trial.

Donaldson said in court on Friday that before McGeary entered guilty pleas in December for a to-be-determined sentence, they reviewed potential penalties ranging from probation to incarceration, as reflected in the state sentencing guidelines. But Donaldson said he didn't specifically identify the mandatory two years' incarceration for a felony conviction of contraband possession.

Before that shortcoming surfaced, McGeary had already expressed remorse for his role in an organized effort in early 2023, when he was carrying suboxone strips into the prison in exchange for money being deposited into a Cash App account in his name.

"I'm sorry for what I did," McGeary told Kagarise, assuring the judge that he was taking responsibility for his involvement.

"It's the worst decision I ever made in my life."

Before McGeary's sentencing was put on hold, Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Thomas asked Kagarise to consider a sentence of six to 20 years' incarceration to address felony offenses of dealing in unlawful proceeds, participating in a corrupt organization, possession of contraband, possession with intent to deliver, related criminal conspiracy charges and criminal use of a communications facility.

Thomas told the judge that McGeary, as a corrections officer, had an important and crucial role in the prison's operation, where he took advantage of a vulnerable population for his own profit.

"It creates a black eye for our system," Thomas said.

Outside court, the prosecutor said he had no interest in a probationary sentence for the former prison employee.

"There needs to be incarceration with this sentence, to discourage this kind of behavior by any other corrections officer," Thomas said.

Donaldson, in light of the mandatory minimum sentence for possession of contraband, suggested a sentence of two to four years' incarceration, followed by probation. If not for the mandatory time, probation would be appropriate, the defense attorney said, because McGeary, an Army veteran, has no prior record, has taken responsibility, is at low risk of reoffending and has been free on bail for almost 17 months without violations.

Criminal charges against McGeary indicated that he was getting Suboxone strips and pills from Jennifer Rae Grimm of Juniata, then turning them over to inmate Brendan Poggi.

In January 2024, Grimm entered guilty pleas for her involvement in the scheme and related drug-trafficking charges for a sentence of three to 10 years' incarceration. Poggi's charges are still pending, online court documents state.

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