Suspects in Wildwood Drive drug bust plead not guilty
BOARDMAN
Three suspects who were arrested during a drug raid at a Wildwood Drive house last week pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from that operation.
Michael Forgach, 41, Syrena Whitfield, 25, and Dawond Roddy, 31, appeared in Mahoning County Area Court here Tuesday for arraignment on charges of permitting drug abuse, possessing drug-abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, Whitfield is charged with inducing panic in connection with an April 29 incident in which she reportedly suffered a drug overdose at the Wildwood house.
The charges against the three stem from a search of 120 Wildwood Drive on Friday, which marked the third time township police have raided it since March. The search reportedly turned up a slew of drug-related items, including more than 100 syringes and suspected heroin.
In court Tuesday, Forgach, who had previously posted bond, appeared with an attorney. Judge Joseph M. Houser continued Forgach’s bond, but warned Forgach that he would be “tempted” to revoke it if Forgach incurred any additional criminal charges.
Forgach was indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury last week on charges of cocaine possession, heroin possession and permitting drug abuse.
Whitfield and Roddy, who remained in the Mahoning County jail, will get court-appointed lawyers. The judge set Whitfield’s bond at $3,500, cash or surety, and Roddy’s at $2,500, cash or surety.
Asked by the judge how she supports herself, Whitfield told him that her child’s father has been supporting her since she moved to the area from Oklahoma a few months ago.
The owners of the house on Wildwood, who are Forgach’s parents, have started the process to remove Forgach and any other tenants from the property after township officials said they would work with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s office to have the property declared a nuisance.
A letter from Atty. Alden Chevlen that was delivered to township officials Monday states that Forgach was served a statutory notice to leave the premises by today. If he does not leave, the next step would be eviction.
The homeowners would like to bring the property into compliance with township regulations and keep it as a rental property, according to their attorney’s letter.
Forgach, Whitfield and Roddy are due back in court Aug. 8.