A Carbon County jury panel returned a split verdict against a Luzerne County man who had been charged with several drug counts by Weatherly police following an arranged drug sale.

Following a two-day trial, the jury of eight men and four women found Randy Cepedes Ortega, 23, of Hazleton, guilty of criminal use of a communication device, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The first count is a felony three and the other two are misdemeanors.The jury found him not guilty of two felony counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.Ortega was arrested by Weatherly police Sgt. Michael C. Bogart following a controlled buy along East Main Street on Nov. 22, 2013. Police used a confidential informant to arrange the buy. He called another defendant in the case to arrange for the purchase of heroin. The CI then met with Ortega for the buy.The other defendant in the case is Megan Rhoades, 20, of Hazleton. She is charged with the same offenses. Her case is still pending.Ortega does not speak or understand English, and two interpreters were required at the trial for translation of English to Spanish and Spanish to English.Presiding Judge Joseph J. Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.