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Warren man sentenced on possession charges

A Warren man was sentenced to up to two years in prison on Friday on possession charges.

Matthew R. Bryant, 27, of Warren, was sentenced before Judge Maureen Skerda on charges of manufacture, delivery or possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver; criminal use of communication facility; intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered; and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.filed — after his arrest on August 3.

Bryant was sentenced on count one, possession with intent to deliver, to nine months to two years minus one day in the Warren County Prison followed by a period of three years of probation. He is work-release and early re-entry eligible. He was given credit for 119 days time served. For that count he was also ordered to submit his DNA to the state repository. He was ordered to complete a drug and alcohol evaluation as well as 230 hours of community service, and his driver’s license was suspended for one year.

Bryant was also sentenced on one count of possession of a controlled substance. For that count, his license was suspended for two years.

According to a WTO story that ran on August 4, “on June 24 at approximately 12 p.m., a confidential informant supervised by state police made contact with Bryant to purchase bath salts. Police said the informant was provided $100 in confidential funds to make the purchase and returned with a plastic bag corner of bath salts. Police said the recovered drugs were submitted for analysis at the PSP Erie Regional lab and were found to be .2 grams of Alpha PVP.”

While District Attorney Rob Greene stated that Bryant does not have a prior record, he was involved in misconduct at the Warren County Jail after his arrest when his cell was searched and contraband was discovered.

Greene added that Bryant cooperated with jail personnel, but added, “the charge is a concern.

“Bath salts are a dangerous drug,” he said, which was why he asked the court to sentence Bryant above the standard range.

Judge Skerda said during Bryant’s sentencing, “I’m concerned,” adding that misconduct appears to be a pattern of behavior for Bryant, but she did acknowledge that, “I appreciate the efforts you’ve made while incarcerated,” citing attendance at self-help meetings and involvement in a recovery program.

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