SALIX —
A Johnstown man who served jail time for the death of his 2-year-old son was jailed Friday on charges that he sold drugs near a playground.
State police in Ebensburg and the Cambria County Drug Task Force alleged that Trent Jamin Gibson, 34, sold large quantities of marajuana from the residence he rented near a playground in Johnstown’s Moxham neighborhood.
Authorities said Gibson was arrested Friday after selling drugs to a confidential informant.
“The reason why this case is so important is the location of the house where these controlled buys were taking place,” said Kevin Price, drug task force supervisor. “It was directly across the street from the Village Street playground.”
Gibson is accused of selling “pounds” of marijuana weekly from the house.
Price referred to him as a mid- to high-level drug dealer in the city.
“We’re not talking ounces,” Price said. “He was dealing pounds of marijuana weekly.”
A pound of marijuana has a street value of $1,500 to $2,500, depending on the quality, he said.
Investigators seized marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia from two locations.
Gibson was arraigned by District Judge Rick Varner of Salix on three criminal complaints in which he is charged with possession and delivery of a controlled substance and related charges.
He was sent to the county prison after failing to post 10 percent of $105,000 bond.
Gibson, a self-employed landscaper, told the judge he was arrested previously.
“I was charged in the death of my son,” Gibson said.
Records show Gibson pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and child endangerment on Jan. 4, 2005, in the death of his son nearly three years earlier.
Medical experts at the time said the boy died of blunt-force trauma to the head and abdomen that caused heart and brain complications.
Keilynn Lewis died May 13, 2002, at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Gibson was sentenced to serve 30 to 60 months in the Cambria County Prison in that case.
He also has a history of drug arrests.
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Trent Jamin Gibson, 34, of Johnstown, heads to his arraignment on drug charges before District Judge Rick Varner of Salix on Friday. Pat Buchnoswki
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City man sold pot near playground, police say
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