CLEARFIELD – Three people arrested as part of the drug bust that went down in Curwensville last May had motions and argument heard before Clearfield County Judge Fredric J. Ammerman on Tuesday.
On My 24 law enforcement joined with the Office of the Attorney General arrested a number of individuals as part of ‘Operation Road Block’. Those arrested were allegedly responsible for the distribution and sale of up to $500,000 per year of cocaine and marijuana in Clearfield County. Information on the drug trafficking was the result of a statewide investigating grand jury.
The investigation revealed that Robert Prisk was allegedly using the garage for his trucking company and his home to sell, store and use marijuana and cocaine. The investigation also revealed that Prisk was using his truck to transport drugs back to Clearfield County from the Poconos or New York City. Sometimes the drugs were hidden in auto parts or other cargo.
Charles Bloom’s councel argued a motion for nominal bail pursuent to rule 600. This rule is a right to a prompt trial. It gives those being held in jail waiting for trial the right to have a trial no later than the date a written criminal complaint is filed. Bloom has been incarcerated since his arrest in May. The judge granted that motion, and released Bloom on his own recognizence.
A motion was also heard on behalf of Tracy Kester through his attorney, Stephen Greenburg. Greenburg has asked twice for the Attorney General’s office to provide information that show Kester was in possession of a controlled substance under the subsection they filed within the statute of limitations, which is five years. Greenburg has argued since the preliminary hearing Kester was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and that Kester was not charged with the correct section of possession of a controlled substance.
Senior Deputy Attorney General David Gorman of the state Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section informed the judge that he was in the process of getting documents from the grand jury judge to provide to Greenburg. Gorman said the documents will have testimony from Kester regarding his activities in this case.
Ammerman gave the men 20 days to submit briefs for him.
In the third arguemtn, there was no motion on the floor, but Gorman discussed issues involving a woman arrested for her alleged role in the case and then released.
Sue Zortman, allegedly connected to Prisk, was arrested for her alleged connection to the case. She was scheduled for a hearing on Dec. 6, but the hearing was continued.
On Dec. 2 her attorney, Steve Jarrett filed a motion for emgergency bail reduction, which led to her being released before her originally scheduled hearing.
Gorman argued that the motion for emergency bail reduction was held last week without his notification. Jarrett argued that he was indeed notified, and that Gorman did not call him when their cases are continued.
“In hindsight, I believe there was no emergency,” said Ammerman.
On her bail, Ammerman said it was a matter for the district judge’s to work out at this point.
