CLEARFIELD – The case against a Woodland woman arrested in August for having drugs and a gun in a vehicle was discussed in Clearfield County Court Thursday.
Chantell Renee Demi, 26, was approached by a state police trooper on Aug. 31 because she was wanted for questioning in a homicide investigation, according to testimony in a hearing to suppress evidence held before President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman.
Trooper Matthew Petrof testified that both Demi and Denny Scott Bailey, 38, were reportedly traveling through Clearfield Borough before Demi dropped Bailey off at the Clearfield County Annex Building.
Petrof was in the area searching for the vehicle when he saw it parked at a business on Third Street and pulled in behind it. He said he had been advised that Demi’s driver’s license was suspended.
When he spoke with Demi, who was in the driver’s side seat, he asked her why she was driving. She told him her license was not suspended.
He said she appeared nervous and he recognized the smell of burnt methamphetamine coming from the car. He also informed her that police wanted to question her.
As he waited for additional officers to join him, he checked her license and discovered it had been reinstated the previous day.
After the other troopers arrived, Demi agreed to go with them to the Clearfield barracks to be questioned.
When she reached into the vehicle for her things, she did not take a black satchel that had a latex glove visible inside it. She said it wasn’t hers.
Petrof testified that when he searched the satchel, he found latex gloves, a revolver wrapped in other gloves, drug paraphernalia, a small amount of drugs and pills packaged for sale.
Following Petrof’s testimony, Ammerman asked both sides to provide briefs on their arguments regarding suppressing the items found in the search.
Demi’s attorney, Heather Bozovich, had also filed a motion for a psychiatric evaluation for her client.
When Ammerman asked why Bozovich thought this was necessary, she stated that as an adolescent Demi was diagnosed with several mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.
First District Attorney Ryan Dobo argued that Demi had already made it through the first stages of her case without an issue.
Ammerman asked Bozovich if there was something in her interaction with Demi that caused her concern, and she said yes but couldn’t elaborate due to confidentiality.
Ammerman then granted the motion for a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Demi is competent to stand trial.
Demi is charged with a felony count of manufacture/delivery/possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possessing firearm with manufacturer number altered, F2, and firearms not to be carried with out a license F3, as well as misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She remains incarcerated in lieu of $75,000 bail.
Bailey is also charged with possession of a firearm with felony counts of manufacturer number altered and possession of firearm prohibited. He is in custody with his bail set at $100,000.
