A Holidaysburg man is headed to prison for a long, long time…. On Thursday, Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard sentenced 39 year old Michael Forshey to 17.5 years to 35 years in prison for four drug-related offenses, after recognizing Forshey’s lengthy criminal history which included eight prior drug delivery convictions, 39 arrests, and 24 confinements. The judge said the long sentence offers the best protectioin for the community from a man who is obviously incapable of exercising any kind of self control over an addiction that he has used to justify selling drugs. Forshey was accused of supplying the heroin laced with fentanyl that led to the April 2018, fatal overdose death of 46-year-old Ronald Baker of East Freedom. In his trial last August, a jury acquitted Forshey of drug delivery resulting in death, it also convicted him of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication device, recklessly endangering another person and possession of a controlled substance. The actual sentence handed down yesterday, included 15 years to 30 years behind bars on what will be Forshey’s ninth conviction for possession with intent to deliver, followed by 18 months to 36 months for criminal use of a communication facility, followed by another 12 months to 25 months for recklessly endangering another person.
Defense attorney Doug Keating said he will file an appeal.