CLEARFIELD – A Houtzdale man accused of selling cocaine waived his right to a preliminary hearing during centralized court on Wednesday.
Robert Stephen Gavlak II, 27, of Houtzdale has been charged by the Office of the Attorney General with three counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and criminal use of a communication facility. Bail has been set at $50,000.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Dec. 20, 2016, an agent contacted a confidential informant and instructed him/her to contact a known male by phone. He/she was to arrange the buy of an eighth ounce of cocaine from him the following day in the late afternoon.
The next day, the agent was contacted by the CI, who had spoken with the male. He was willing to sell the eighth ounce of cocaine to the CI. The CI had arrangements to meet with the male’s brother-in-law, Gavlak, at a Houtzdale residence.
The male instructed the CI to contact Gavlak and let him know what time he/she would be there. At approximately 3 p.m., the agent and CI prepared to make the drug transaction.
The CI told the agent he/she had sent a text to Gavlak earlier to let him know he/she would be up to get the eight ball of cocaine.
The CI asked Gavlak if anyone would be there. He said his mom and the kids when they get home. The CI and Gavlak exchanged several text messages about when the CI would arrive at the residence, and the agent provided the CI with $300.
At approximately 3:43 p.m., the agent and CI arrived at the Houtzdale residence. As the CI exited his/her vehicle, Gavlak pulled in the driveway in a blue-colored Mitsubishi. The CI and Gavlak proceeded to enter the residence.
When the CI returned to the vehicle, he/she turned over a plastic zip lock bag containing the cocaine to the agent. The CI told the agent besides the two children in the residence, there was a female, and Gavlak invited him to his bedroom in the basement.
When they entered the basement, Gavlak allegedly pulled out the zip lock bag of cocaine from his pocket and handed it to him/her. The CI then gave Gavlak the $300.
Later an officer field-tested the cocaine; it revealed a positive presence of the drug. The cocaine will be sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory in Erie for further testing and analysis.
