One crime leads to another
A Petrolia woman, charged after an alleged home invasion revealed a drug operation in her house, pleaded guilty in Butler County court on Wednesday.
Savannah M. Blust, 24, pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance before Judge Timothy McCune.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence of six to 12 months in Butler County Prison, followed by 36 months probation, fines, costs and community service.
She is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 26.
Blust was initially charged alongside her boyfriend, Macklin C. Haye, 24, with felony possession with intent, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, and conspiracy counts to all after a June 8 incident at the home on the 300 block of Petrolia Road.
Police said state troopers were investigating an alleged home invasion and discovered the couple were selling marijuana and manufacturing THC wax.
Using a search warrant, police found two pounds of processed marijuana, $67,928 in currency, as well as psychedelic mushrooms and an assortment of drug contraband in the house.
Police said the home invasion incident occurred after Patrick C. Bookwalter, 35, of Brady Township, Clarion County; Joseph R. Painter, 34, of Kittanning; and Michael Lee Bure, 36, of Worthington, broke into the home and assaulted the occupants.
Police said the three men targeted the couple for proceeds from their drug business,
The trio allegedly forced open a basement door to get into the home, police said. They believed some of the money was in a vehicle in the garage and some was in the kitchen.
Bookwalter allegedly entered the home while Bure and Painter searched the garage, police said. That is when Bookwalter, armed with pepper spray and a handgun, encountered Haye sleeping on the couch in the living room. Police said Brookwalter sprayed Haye with the pepper spray as the two men tussled.
Blust, who was sleeping on the second floor, heard the fighting and came downstairs. She repeatedly stabbed Bookwalter in defense of her boyfriend, police said.
Moments later Bookwalter had a gun pointed at both occupants, and then he and his accomplices fled the house empty-handed before making their getaway in Bookwalter's car.
Bookwalter later called 911, claiming he had been stabbed near the All Star Bar in East Brady, and emergency crews found him in an alley near the bar. He had four stab wounds to his back, documents said. A medical helicopter flew him to the Pittsburgh hospital.
From his hospital bed, Bookwalter admitted his involvement to police and claimed Painter was “responsible for planning and recruiting him for the robbery,” according to a police affidavit. He didn't know the name of the other accomplice, later identified as Bure.
While in the house as part of their initial investigation, police said, troopers noticed suspected marijuana, contraband and suspicious equipment.
Blust continues to be held in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 bail pending sentencing.
Haye, Painter, Bookwalter and Bure were also scheduled in court Wednesday, however their cases were continued. Painter is the only defendant not held, after posting $50,000 bail.
