pray@altoonamirror.com
Blair County Judge Jackie A. Bernard has rejected a post-conviction petition by an Altoona man who claimed he was unaware that he would receive a 12-year minimum sentence for drug offenses including drug delivery resulting in death when he pleaded guilty 28 months ago.
The defendant, Alexsi Serpas Lopez, 40, was sentenced by Bernard to a term of 12 to 30 years in a state correctional institution, but Lopez claimed he was under the impression when he entered his guilty pleas that his minimum sentence would be 10 years.
He argued he was unaware of the 12-year minimum because his trial attorney had not informed him that the prosecution had taken the 10-year minimum off the table because he failed to accept the plea offer by April 30, 2018.