Man who was shot during drug deal pleads guilty to possession
A West Virginia man who was shot during an alleged drug deal pleaded guilty to drug possession in Fayette County Court on Thursday.
According to District Attorney Rich Bower, in exchange for his guilty plea, Mark Goldberg, 30, of Clarksburg, will be sentenced to nine to 24 months in jail.
Goldberg was charged in late 2014 along with 30-year-old Jared Rivera, who was living on Varndell Street in Uniontown at the time of the alleged drug deal.
Police said Rivera was smoking marijuana and crack cocaine at his home with Goldberg, whom he had met a few days earlier. Goldberg retrieved two duffel bags from his vehicle containing 15 packages of marijuana.
According to police, a third man Goldberg knew only as “E” entered the room holding a handgun. Police said Rivera also produced a gun, and the two men demanded everything Goldberg had.
Goldberg told police that as the men were checking his pockets, he shoved Rivera, at which time “E” fired several shots at him. Rivera said he took shelter behind a refrigerator, pulled a handgun from his waistband and returned fire, police said.
Goldberg then fled and was later treated at Uniontown Hospital for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. Rivera was treated at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for gunshot wounds to the abdomen and arm.
Police found suspected marijuana in a plastic sandwich bag and in two gym bags, digital scales, syringes, money, two handguns, Suboxone and other drug paraphernalia upon searching Rivera’s home.
Rivera faces charges of robbery, and possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia. He is awaiting trial.
Goldberg will be sentenced at a later date.