Pennsylvania man sentenced to prison time, substantial amount in controlled substance fees for felony charge of drug sales in a school zone in Mower County District Court

A Pennsylvania man who sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on three different occasions in Austin in May of 2017, twice from his then-residence in the 700 block of 7th Street NW, and once from a residence in the 700 block of 8th Avenue NW, half a block east of Sumner Elementary School, has been sentenced to prison time and a substantial amount in controlled substance fees in Mower County District Court.  

35-year old Michael Jonathan Vela of Minersville, Pennsylvania was sentenced Thursday to eight years and one month in prison, plus $200,000 in controlled substance fees for a felony charge of 2nd degree drugs, sale of methamphetamine or amphetamine in a school, park or public housing zone, subsequent offense.  Vela was given credit for three years and 266 days already served, and he first pleaded guilty to the charge on September 21st, 2018 after initially pleading not guilty on August 28th, 2017.

Three additional felony charges for aggravated 1st degree drugs, sale of 10 grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine and two additional counts of 2nd degree drugs, sale of methamphetamine or amphetamine in a school, park or public housing zone, subsequent offense in the case against Vela were dismissed with his guilty plea. 

In an amended court decision Thursday, Vela was also sentenced to 15 months in prison for a felony charge for storing methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child, and he was also sentenced to 13 months in prison for a felony 5th degree drug possession charge stemming from an incident that occurred in Austin on November 18th, 2016.  Vela was given credit for 15 months already served for both charges, and he pleaded guilty to the charges back on August 14th, 2017 after initially pleading not guilty on January 17th of that year.

A felony 5th degree drug possession charge against Vela stemming from another incident in Austin on May 17th, 2017 was dismissed Thursday with his guilty pleas in the other cases.