DUBOIS – A DuBois man accused of making methamphetamine after an incident in November of 2015 will stand trial.
Jason Yusnukis, 26, is charged with risking a catastrophe, possession of red phosphorus with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to manufacture/deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and operating a methamphetamine lab.
He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday during centralized court at District Judge Pat Ford’s office. His case now moves on to the Court of Common Pleas. He is in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The charges stem from a report of possible drug activity on Quarry Avenue in DuBois, Nov. 21, 2015. A resident told police there was a smell of sulfur in the air at her home.
She explained her son put items in a duffel bag, and took a smoking bucket before fleeing. The residents were instructed to leave the home because of the potential hazards from the chemicals, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
It was believed he fled toward Giant Eagle, and he was described as wearing a dark sweatshirt. As an officer checked out some wet footprints on the road, he saw a duffel bag, which appeared to be smoking, lying in a ditch.
Beside it was a black sweatshirt. The footprints led to another residence on Quarry Avenue. The phone Yusnukis was using was checked and it was discovered that he had contacted someone who lived there.
Officers knocked at this residence where a woman answered. She was asked where Yusnukis was, and she directed them to him. He was taken into custody.
When a clandestine lab team pulled items from the duffel bag, they found an active gas generator in a 20-ounce bottle, a jug containing hydrochloric acid, a bottle with sodium hydroxide, tubing, residue, meth, allergy medication, a cold pack and other ingredients for making methamphetamine.
They also discovered a debit card with Jason Yusnukis’ name on it.
Yusnukis is one of the many people charged in “Operation Ice Storm” in March. “Operation Ice Storm” involved the arrests of 30 people in March for their connection with a drug ring that was selling methamphetamine and heroin in the area, according to previously published reports.
The arrests were the result of a year-long investigation that involved the DuBois City and Sandy Township Police Departments, the Clearfield County Drug Task Force, the District Attorney, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.