CLEARFIELD- Several people facing felony drug charges were scheduled for preliminary hearings Wednesday during centralized court.
These charges stem from a drug bust at 128 Clearfield St., in Clearfield in January.
Peter Murphy, 31, of Woodland, Joshua Robert Neptune, 26, of Clearfield and Stephanie Swanson, 28, of Clearfield all waived their rights to a hearing.
Melanie Joy Hartman, currently an inmate of state prison, Dylan Thomas Kline, 24 of Clearfield and Mikhail Bloom Greenland, 29, of Clearfield had their hearings continued until Nov. 23.
Ethan William McLachlan, 25, of Curwensville failed to appear for his hearing, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, according to online court documents. A hearing was held in his absence with all charges sent on to the Court of Common Pleas.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, an officer was investigating the distribution of methamphetamine and Subutex out of a Clearfield Borough home. A search warrant was executed at the residence Jan. 15 and controlled substances were seized.
When officers arrived, they made contact with Kline at the door. Officers asked for Murphy, who had an active warrant from Clearfield Borough police. Kline wouldn’t open the door and said Murphy was next door before running upstairs. Swanson then came downstairs and opened the door. She said Murphy was upstairs and officers were able to locate him.
It was determined Kline and Swanson both had warrants for their arrests. Kline was known to be dating Hartman, who was staying at this residence and who also had warrants for her arrest. She was located in the attic, hiding in a corner under boxes and blankets.
During the search, officers allegedly found multiple items of drug paraphernalia, log books and meth. McLachlan had $848 when he was taken into custody, police said.
In his interview with police, Greenland said Murphy, Neptune, Hartman and Kline all stayed at the residence and paid rent. Kline had only been there for two weeks.
Greenland said the night before the arrests, that McLachlan did have meth. Greenland admitted he had a prescription for Subutex, but he said he did not sell it.
He also stated that Hartman goes to multiple doctors and has offered pills as payment for the rent, but Greenland said he did not accept them.
McLachlan told police that Hartman and Kline had meth Jan. 14. He remembered two people coming to the residence to purchase Subutex.
The search of Hartman and Kline’s room uncovered a log book and $375, according to the criminal complaint. This book contained information on how many pills Hartman and Kline had to sell. The money was the proceeds from the sales, police said.
Kline, in his interview, told police it was McLachlan, who brought one gram of meth to the residence Jan. 14. It was given to Hartman, Neptune, Murphy and Swanson, he said. Kline admitted that he himself had sold Subutex.
Hartman told officers she did not deal with McLachlan, and she had only asked him for meth for her personal use. She said McLachlan showed up Jan. 14 with about half to one gram of meth.
When that was gone, he left and returned with two grams more. She admitted she, Kline and Murphy did all the meth. Swanson came to her room to get some meth for her and Greenland. Hartman said she does not sell her Subutex but gives it to Kline to sell. She stated that Greenland also sells his Subutex.
Murphy told police that McLachlan brought meth to the residence Jan. 14. He thought there was about two grams worth of the substance. He said it was for Hartman and Kline.
He also told police McLachlan bought an 8-ball (3.5 grams) in State College and sold some of it prior to getting back to Clearfield. The meth was distributed to Hartman, Kline, Murphy, Swanson and Greenland, according to Murphy.
He said Kline was the main seller of Subutex. When Murphy was searched at the jail, officers found he had concealed pills inside his rectum. He said he did it to keep from detoxing during his incarceration.
In her interview with police, Swanson admitted she was aware of the drug activity of the others. At first she denied knowing anything about the meth that was found under her side of a bed.
In a later interview, she admitted it was hers and it was given to her by Hartman. Swanson stated she was not a user and had only done meth once before. The amount the officers found, she said, was what was left of what Hartman gave her.
Neptune was questioned regarding what was found in his bedroom. He told police there was only a knife, and brass knuckles in the room. He said when he arrived home Jan. 14, Hartman, McLachlan and Kline were in Hartman’s room cooking up some meth on a book. He estimated it to be one to two grams of the substance.
A review of the group’s various cell phones, revealed several drug-related messages.
McLachlan’s phone had many messages from him to other people setting up purchases of meth. He also mentioned needing to get rid of some “poop,” which is a slang term for synthetic marijuana.
Hartman’s phone had messages to people asking for money to pay for her doctor’s appointment and arranging drug sales. In some of the conversations, it is stated Kline was the one sending the messages to arrange the transactions. McLachlan sent a picture to Hartman Jan. 13 of suspected meth. Hartman then asked him to save her half a gram.
Murphy’s cell phone had text messages regarding the sale of Subutex, which is identified as being Hartman’s pills. There were messages from Greenland to Hartman talking about the selling of Subutex and “throwing in money” for their doctor’s appointments.
McLachlan is charged with manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, intentional possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Kline is charged with manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of communication facility, intentional possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hartman is charged with manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, criminal use of communication facility, intentional possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Murphy is charged with criminal conspiracy-manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance-contraband, criminal use of communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia, and intentional possession of a controlled substance.
Greenland is charged with manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of communication facility, and intentional possession of a controlled substance by person not registered.
Swanson is charged with manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, intentional possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Neptune is charged with criminal conspiracy-manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, make repairs/sell offensive weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and intentional possession of a controlled substance.
