Thursday, February 21, 2002
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A drug sweep in Lawrence County has netted several people accused of distributing crack cocaine and the prescription painkiller OxyContin, said District Attorney Matthew Mangino.
Wednesday's arrests were part of an investigation by the district attorney's drug task force, city police and several state and federal agencies, Mangino said.
Nine people were taken into custody, and arrest warrants were issued for two others.
Suspects not found: Authorities are looking for Ronald Brothers, 23, of Young Street, New Castle, who faces a charge of delivery of crack cocaine, and Della Harris, 35, of Pin Oak Drive, charged with two counts of delivery of crack cocaine.
The others were arraigned late Wednesday before District Justice Melissa Amodie.
Christopher Klingensmith, 27, of Pine Street, New Castle, remained in Lawrence County Jail this morning after failing to post $15,000 bond. He faces two counts of delivery of crack cocaine and possession of about one ounce of suspected cocaine and 80 OxyContin pills, which were confiscated on a raid on his house Feb. 16, authorities said.
Richard McKnight, 27, of Pin Oak Drive, faces two counts of delivery of crack cocaine. He also was in jail this morning after failing to post $4,000 bond.
Others in jail: The following people also were in jail this morning, unable to post $10,000 bonds: James Brest, 28, of Pine Street, facing three counts of delivery of OxyContin; Kevin Michael Kraner, 28, of Brooklyn Avenue, facing two counts of delivery of crack cocaine; Winifred Cohen, 51, of West North Street, charged with delivery of crack cocaine; and Devon King, 22, of West Lincoln Avenue, facing two counts of delivery of crack cocaine.
Alesia Ward, 36, of Front Street, who faces one count of delivery of crack cocaine, was released after posting $2,000 bond.
Two others were released on bond this morning. They were Jeremy Hurd, 19, of East Lutton Street, who faces three counts of delivery of crack cocaine, and Charles Michael Zduniak, 22, of Pine Street, who faces two counts of delivery of crack cocaine.
Preliminary hearings for all those arrested are set for March 1 before Amodie.