State Superior Court denies cocaine dealer’s appeal

HARRISBURG – Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse announced Monday that the Pennsylvania Superior Court issued a decision on Friday denying the appeal and request for sentence modification filed by Mikail Handy, 48, of Philadelphia.

In 2019 and 2020, Handy was the subject of a Pennsylvania State Police Vice Unit investigation that resulted in his arrest for the repeated sale of crack cocaine in the Lock Haven area. Handy, and his co-defendant, Holly Chapman, of Mill Hall, were both arrested on several felony counts including delivery of cocaine.

In July of 2020, Handy pled guilty to a pair of felony offenses, delivery of cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility. At sentencing, Handy pleaded with President Judge Craig P. Miller to impose concurrent sentences for his crimes, claiming that he just wanted to go home to be with his family. DA Dave Strouse outlined Handy’s extensive criminal history and the fact that Handy had obviously only come into Clinton County to distribute drugs, since he had no connection to the area.

Judge Miller ultimately imposed consecutive state prison sentences that totaled 14 years, with parole eligibility after the first 5-and-a-half years. Handy filed his appeal in February of 2022, alleging that Judge Miller abused his discretion in imposing such a long sentence, calling the sentence “excessive,” and asking the appellate court to correct the error. In its opinion, the Superior Court found that President Judge Miller had made no errors in fashioning the sentence, had properly considered all of Handy’s circumstances, and determined that Handy was in need of an extended period of incarceration. Source: Clinton County District Attorney’s Office

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/pa-superior-court-denies-cocaine-ealers-appeal