DELHI _ A Fleischmanns man pleaded guilty to burglary and drug possession as his trial was about to begin in Delaware County Court Tuesday morning.
Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said a jury of seven women and five men was seated Monday to hear the case involving Matthew C. Galunas.
Northrup said Galunas agreed to plead guilty to felony counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree burglary in a plea agreement in which he will serve at least three years and up to six years in prison.
Northrup said Galunas, 41, allocated under oath that he committed the crimes.
Galunas will be sentenced on Oct. 9 and faces three years' determinate on the drug-possession charge plus two years' post-release supervision and two-to-six years on the burglary charge. The prison sentences will run concurrently.
Northrup said Galunas was also ordered to pay restitution and waived his right to appeal.
Galunas was arrested Oct. 30 and charged with eight felonies. The alleged incidents took place in Margaretville during December 2007.
Galunas was originally charged with two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, morphine, morphine sulfate, oxycodone, oxycotin and methadone; two counts of third-degree burglary; two counts of third-degree grand larceny; and two counts of petit larceny.
The charges stem from alleged burglaries at the CVS pharmacy and the A&P supermarket in Margaretville.
A large amount of pharmaceutical drugs and cigarettes was stolen from the CVS, troopers said, and a large, undisclosed amount of cash was stolen from the store registers and the ATM machine within the A&P, along with cartons of cigarettes.
Delhi lawyer Richard Gumo represented Galunas.
Northrup said Galunas is also awaiting sentencing in Ulster County on charges related to the sale of stolen prescription drugs.
Ulster County deputies arrested Galunas on Feb. 26, 2008, and charged him with two counts of criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance.
He also faced a reckless endangerment charge for allegedly selling more than 300 tablets of morphine to undercover officers and more than 400 tablets total during an investigation.
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
