A plea agreement was reached in a big local drug trial Wednesday.
 
51 year old Kenneth Piner Sr. of Altoona pleaded guilty as testimony was set to begin in his trial in Blair County Court.
 
As part of the agreement Piner will provide testimony in a statewide grand jury investigation into a Baltimore-to-Altoona drug operation.  In addition, Piner will serve at least 19 years in state prison. 
 
He pleaded guilty to nine counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, as well as being a member of a corrupt organization, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity, criminal use of a communications facility and conspiracy to deliver cocaine.
 
Piner would have faced a sentence of almost 250 years in prison if convicted.
 
The case involved 14 people bringing cocaine from Baltimore and distributing out of The Corner Bar and Grill on 8^th Avenue in Altoona.