CURWENSVILLE – A Curwensville couple has been accused of selling drugs and having explosive material and a dangerous sawed-off shotgun in their home with five children.
April Marie Bambarger, 32, and Wayne Bambarger, 37, both of Curwensville, have been charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, F; intentional possession of a controlled substance, M; marijuana-small amount personal use, M; use/possession of drug paraphernalia, M; corruption of minors, M1, five counts; make repairs/sell, etc. offensive weapon, M1, two counts; and possession of a firearm with manufacturer number altered, etc., F2.
Both April and Wayne Bambarger waived their rights to preliminary hearings during centralized court Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
According to the affidavits of probable cause, on Nov. 25, a 14-year-old girl, along with her father, showed up at the state police barracks in Woodland to report illegal drug activity. Her mother – April Bambarger – had allegedly been selling marijuana, pills and methamphetamine from her home since July 25.
Her mother had declared bankruptcy approximately four months ago and resorted to selling drugs around the same time. When confronted, her mother told her she planned to sell drugs until the family was out of debt, the girl told state police.
On Nov. 22, the girl said she observed Bambarger with a sandwich bag full of marijuana and a butane torch. When she asked about the butane torch, her mother told her it was for methamphetamine.
The girl also said her sister takes medication for ADHD, but their mother doesn’t allow her to take it because she’s selling it.
A search warrant was approved by Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. and signed off by Magisterial District Judge Jerome Nevling. It was executed on the Bambarger residence on South Street that evening.
State police seized a container of two, separately packaged baggies of methamphetamine; multiple separately, packaged baggies of marijuana; and a bottle of assorted, unidentified pills. All were packaged consistently with the sale of the drugs.
In addition to the drugs, state police seized two quarter sticks of explosive material for which neither April nor Wayne Bambarger had a license to possess and assorted paraphernalia, such as pipes, scales and cut-off straws.
When asked if they were in possession of any other important items at the home, the couple said a sawed-off shotgun. A sawed-off rifle with a ground-off serial number was located by state police.
April and Wayne Bambarger were maintaining a drug habit and selling illegal drugs while possessing a dangerous sawed-off rifle that wasn’t secured. Five juveniles, all of whom were under the age 16, were also living in the home, according to the affidavits.