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Friday, June 19, 2015

One Day After Drug Sweep, DA Dismisses Most Charges

Early Wednesday morning, Colonial Regional Police and the Northampton County Drug task Force arrested and charged 14 people with dealing drugs from cocaine to hallucinigenic mushrooms. One day later, most of the charges have been dismissed. Detective André Stevens and DA John Morganelli were growing increasingly suspicious about what what they were hearing about the drug buys that led to these arrests. Concerned that a confidential informant had pocketed some of the drug money used to make buys and may even have colluded with suspected dealers, Morganelli decided that the safest course is to withdraw the charges.

"It is absolutely crucial that any criminal prosecution proceed with credible evidence," the veteran prosecutor noted.

Interviews with arrested defendants revealed that the confidential informant being used was actually pocketing some of the drug money given to make buys. There is even suspicion that he colluded with others to make phony buys in an attempt to have other charges against him reduced.

Charges against three defendants whom police observed engaged in the drug transactions are still outstanding. Those still charged with possession of and intent to deliver controlled substances are Colby Sicher, 27, of Whitehall; Christopher Janotka, 22, of Walnutport; and Dominick Nixon, 22, of Bath.

Only Janotka is in custody. All other Defendants were released on unsecured bail as arresting officers grew suspicious.

The confidential informant and others may soon be facing different charges, including false reports to law enforcement officials.
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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 19, 2015 at 7:24 AM

    jm - perfect example of the Peter Principle

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 19, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    Talk for years about "the premier law enforcement agency" in Northampton county. Drunken, shady cops, and missing money. Maybe something else missing now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 19, 2015 at 10:07 AM

    Kudos to Morganelli and others for figuring this out quickly and manning up.

    @7:24AM You are the perfect example of an a-hole.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 19, 2015 at 2:28 PM

    Maybe they should be charged with theft by deception. Wouldn't that make for an interesting case?

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJune 20, 2015 at 5:23 PM

    He has to man up, had the charges stuck he would have been the laughing stock of the county once the Prelim's and defense attorney's got at the evidence.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bernie O'HareJune 20, 2015 at 5:35 PM

    It was absolutely the right call. Morganelli is a prosecutor, not a persecutor.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 22, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Hats off to Morganelli. Now, tell the local law enforcement to concentrate on real crime and not locking up 22 year olds in the failed war on drugs.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJune 22, 2015 at 10:57 AM

    This must have been a cluster fuck of heroic proportions.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UntJune 22, 2015 at 10:38 PM

    Is it true one ofthe sticker gang is involved? Seriously . Ive been told that

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bernie O'HareJune 22, 2015 at 10:54 PM

    You've been told wrong.

    ReplyDelete

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