HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Tyrone man convicted of trading marijuana for sexual favors with teenage girls has pleaded guilty to a felony count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana for no further sentence.

Paul Robert Holpit, 27, who in November was sentenced to 17 years and four months to 48 years’ incarceration on 82 counts of human trafficking, solicitation of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, possession of child pornography and related offenses, opted to plead guilty Monday to the single charge for the recommended sentence and dismissal of two related misdemeanor offenses.

Senior Judge Timothy M. Sullivan took Holpit’s plea on Monday when Holpit was scheduled to select a jury for trial on the drug-trafficking charges that Tyrone Borough Police filed after arresting Holpit on May 6, 2022.

Charges indicate that on May 6, 2022, borough police went to Holpit’s residence, then on the 500 block of West 14th Street in Tyrone, to serve a search warrant in connection with allegations that in 2021 and 2022, he had been enticing girls into sexual interactions by providing them with marijuana. In that case leading to the 17 to 48 years’ incarceration, the interactions included oral sex, video phone calls and the exchange of sexually explicit photos.

During the May 6, 2022, search, police reported finding and seizing 297 grams of marijuana inside a black bag in Holpit’s bedroom closet, a silver scale, multiple clear sandwich bags in his desk and a glass pipe with marijuana residue.

Police also seized Holpit’s electronic devices, which led to the filing of additional charges and the lengthy sentence.

While court records show Holpit’s criminal cases were initially joined, they were separated before Holpit’s August 2024 trial so they could be evaluated independently. Holpit, when sentenced after trial, claimed to have done nothing to hurt the teenagers. He subsequently filed an appeal that remains pending with the state Superior Court.

When pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver for the marijuana found at his residence, Holpit clarified that he was pleading only to that charge for no further sentence. Sullivan said the remaining two counts — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia — would be withdrawn.

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