Drug suspect arrested
CENTER TWP — Dozens of bags of suspected heroin, alleged drug trafficking materials and more than $2,000 were some of the evidence seized during a home visit to a man on probation, authorities said.
The finding last week landed 47-year-old probationer Richard A. Paskosky back behind bars. The Butler County Drug Task Force on Tuesday charged him with two felonies in the case.
The task force was asked to meet with county probation officers around 1:45 p.m. Thursday at Paskosky's home on Jill Drive in Center Township, according to court documents.
During the visit, officers found a small tin box in the drawer of a living room coffee table. County Detective Tim Fennell, who heads the task force, said the box contained 39 stamp bags of suspected heroin.
Also in the box were a digital scale and additional contraband including empty stamp bags and other packaging materials, two crack pipes, three snorting tubes, a glass vial and two push rods.
In addition to $2,340 found in another box, the search turned up pills of two different medications for which Paskosky did not have prescriptions, a cell phone and 17 rounds of ammunition.
Fennell on Monday obtained a search warrant for the phone, which displayed multiple text messages from people asking to buy heroin and Paskosky replying with what it would cost.
“Paskosky also states he “is in it 4 the money not the buzz,'” the affidavit said.
The defendant following the search was placed in the Butler County Prison on a probation violation.
District Judge Lewis Stoughton on Tuesday arraigned Paskosky on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility, and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
He is being held in Butler County Prison on $150,000 bail.
