The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

October 17, 2008

Pair of drug dealers heading to federal prison

By Joe Pinchot

FARRELL — Stevie D. Dean could only shake his head as U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Lancaster discussed Dean’s criminal history and what it meant to his possible sentence.

Because Dean has an extensive criminal history, he is deemed a career offender under federal sentencing guidelines, and his recommended prison term was 262 to 327 months for pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine.

“I was just caught up in using drugs,” Dean, 41, of Farrell, said Friday. “I didn’t understand it would get me to prison for 20 years, giving a guy a ride like that.”

Dean set up a crack deal Aug. 28, 2007, in which Darren D. “Little D” Parchem, 21, of Farrell — who also was sentenced Friday by Lancaster — sold nearly 2 ounces to an informant at the Crazy Horse, 999 George St., Farrell. The informant paid $1,950 and Dean got $50 of that as a finder’s fee, prosecutors said.

Lancaster noted Dean has been convicted of crimes 15 times in state court, with offenses including carrying a firearm without a license, simple assault, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and resisting arrest.

Dean’s attorney, James J. Brink of Pittsburgh, summed up Dean’s record as “crackhead activities” and “petty offenses” and noted he only got $50 from this sale and $30 from another for which he was convicted in state court.

Brink asked for a sentence of 110 to 137 months.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti asked for a guidelines range sentence, noting that Dean has a lengthy drug addiction, anger management problems and a gun conviction, has violated probation or parole and has fought with police and tried to escape.

Lancaster chose 262 months, giving Dean the benefit of playing a minor role in the drug sale.

The judge added that prior incarcerations have done little to dissuade Dean from a life of crime, and the public needs to be protected from future crimes by Dean.

“He should have known better,” Lancaster said.

Lancaster recommended that Dean be enrolled in the federal Bureau of Prison’s intensive 500-hour drug-treatment program and be placed as near as possible to South Bend, Ind., where he was born and his mother lives.

Dean will serve 5 years’ supervised release when he gets out.

Dean’s sentencing hearing was attended by a group of Bosnian judges and prosecutors who are observing the American court system. A judge marveled at the length of time the federal courts give for drug crimes, and noted that some convicted of possessing more than 20 kilograms of heroin in their country would get a prison term of maybe 5 years.

Parchem benefited from having no previous convictions, although he is wanted in his native Detroit on warrants for petty offenses.

Because of his lack of record, no violence in his past and his cooperation with authorities, Parchem qualified for what is known as the safety valve, meaning he does not have to serve the 10-year mandatory minimum that goes with the conspiracy charge to which he pleaded guilty.

Parchem’s guidelines range was 57 to 71 months, and Lancaster chose 57.

“I hope it’s my first and last time I’m in trouble,” Parchem said.

Rivetti said it is rare to have someone with no criminal history get caught up in so severe an offense, and that Parchem immediately agreed to plead guilty upon his arrest.

“Hopefully, this is his wake-up call,” Rivetti said.

Lancaster also recommended that Parchem undergo drug treatment while in prison, and that he be imprisoned as close as possible to Farrell, where his fiancee lives.

Parchem will serve 5 years’ supervised released once he gets out.

At Rivetti’s request, Lancaster dismissed charges of distribution that had been filed against both men.

The federal cases were heard in Pittsburgh.

Text Only
Local News
  • Storm blows in fast, leaves damage

    A scattered storm that started in Michigan and pulled in moisture over Lake Erie organized itself into a locally-severe storm system Sunday over Mercer County.

    May 28, 2012

  • transit Transit is once-in-a-lifetime show

    A rare celestial wonder that won’t be seen again for more than a century is set to play out before our eyes and Farrell’s resident astronomer  is giving locals a chance to get a first-hand look at a “black dawn.”

    May 28, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ominous clouds Storms rumble through parts of Mercer County

    Temperatures dropped nearly 20 degrees Sunday as storms rumbled through parts of Mercer County in the afternoon and again in the evening. Some areas experienced high gusting winds during the early storms. The later storms were less windy, but dumped a lot of rain in a short span in the Shenango Valley as well as outlying areas. Temperatures are forecast for in the 90s on Memorial Day, with a chance of storms in the afternoon. Check out Sunday's Herald both in print and here for more details.

     

     

    May 27, 2012 1 Photo

  • Board wants pay freeze


    Sharon City School District officials are asking staff to take a wage freeze for the second year in a row to help cover a $1.9 million gap in the 2012-2013 budget in the face of further funding cuts by the state.

    May 27, 2012

  • City taps Pa. grant for downtown facelift


    The colorful flower baskets hanging in downtown Sharon are just one of the planted seeds officials hope will help the once-bustling area grow.

    May 27, 2012

  • pension graphic Pension bomb ticking for city

    The city of Sharon pays more people who don’t work there anymore than folks who still do.

    And the amount of money the city must pay to the retirees is going up about $250,000 next year, a hike that creates more problems for the cash-strapped town, City Manager Scott Andrejchak said.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • Church softball league to Mormons: You’re out!

    The Grove City Area Church Softball League’s decision to exclude a Mormon team from Slippery Rock has sparked a controversy far beyond the local sandlot.

    May 26, 2012

  • Fired bus driver files lawsuit

    A Mercer County woman fired from her job as a school bus driver over a 25-year-old drug conviction filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against a state education official and Jamestown Area School District.

    May 26, 2012

  • Recycling program a bit too popular

    The  county’s effort at going green by encouraging recycling in rural areas has been a tremendous success by most accounts, but isn’t without a few glitches. In Wilmington Township, residents often only have a window of a few minutes to get cardboard recyclables in before the bin is full, prompting a discussion among Mercer County Commissioners Wednesday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • District will tap reserve fund

    Reynolds school directors plan to fill a $374,567 hole in the 2012-2013 budget with money from the district’s fund balance.

    May 25, 2012