Austin Malone

A Cranberry Township man charged with heroin distribution and DUI pleaded guilty Tuesday in three cases in Butler County Court.

Austin J. Malone, 27, pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — heroin, misdemeanor driving under the influence of a controlled substance and summary driving on a suspended license before President Judge Thomas Doerr.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 2 to 5 years in a state correctional facility. Malone will also be ordered to pay court costs, restitution and $1,700 in fines, as well as complete 100 hours of community service when he is sentenced on May 17.

Police said Malone sold 10 stamp bags of heroin for $80 to a confidential informant on three occasions — May 10 and June 5 at different stores in Zelienople and May 17 at a store in Cranberry Township.

Officers arrested Malone shortly after the alleged June 5 deal.

Malone was also charged for incident on Perry way at Perry Highway, Zelienople, on Aug. 29.

Zelienople police said while investigating a one-vehicle crash, where a vehicle hit a utility pole, borough sign and tree, Malone was found driving under the influence.

Malone was also charged for an incident on East Culvert Street on Nov. 2.

Zelienople police filed the charges after Malone was seen driving, and was known by police to have a suspended license.

The vehicle was stopped and Malone told police that he was driving because his girlfriend was unable to back into their driveway. Police said Malone attempted to hide a suspicious package by placing a rag over it, and when police seized it, it was found to be a packaged bundle of heroin.

He continues to be held in Butler County Prison on a combined $20,200 bail pending sentencing.

Read more about this case in the Butler Eagle.