CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield couple accused of buying synthetic marijuana online waived their rights to preliminary hearings during Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Amber Renee Dick, 33, and Scott Allen Hockenberry, 37, both of Clearfield, have been charged with conspiracy/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; intentional possession of a controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, an agent received information about the sales of synthetic marijuana from an apartment on Park Avenue in Lawrence Township. Further, the agent learned that Dick and Hockenberry had allegedly purchased synthetic marijuana online, and the parcels would be shipped to their Park Avenue address.
Upon checking with UPS, the agent found that 27 parcels were shipped from MagicMans Wholesale in Bakersfield, Calif. to Park Avenue between August and December of 2013. Further investigation revealed that MagicMans Wholesale was a “head shop” known for selling various items, including smoking pipes and incense that are commonly found to be synthetic marijuana, a controlled substance.
On Dec. 17, 2013, a parcel addressed to Dick was intercepted at the UPS hub in State College. The agent subsequently applied for a search warrant for the parcel and received approval from Magisterial District Judge Leslie Dutchcot. The next day, members of the Pennsylvania State Police North Central Strike Force executed the search warrant at the UPS hub.
The parcel contained 10 packets of suspected synthetic marijuana, which were labeled “Mind Trip.” The packets weighed 10 grams each, according to the affidavit of probable cause. The agent took possession of the parcel and went to the Park Avenue address of Dick and Hockenberry.
Hockenberry agreed to speak about the parcel and its contents. Dick was also present and both admitted to knowledge of the parcel’s contents. Additionally, Hockenberry and Dick admitted the 10 packets contained synthetic marijuana that was ordered online.
Both Hockenberry and Dick admitted to smoking the substance from the packets. Dick agreed to allow a search of the apartment, which yielded digital scales, plastic baggies, glass smoking pipes, an “owe sheet” and an empty UPS package from MagicMans Wholesale addressed to Dick.
The substance contained in the parcel was sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Regional Laboratory in Harrisburg for further analysis. Those results indicated the submitted substance contained XLR-11, which is a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
