Man guilty of drug charges sentenced to time served
A Westmoreland County man charged with possessing methamphetamine precursors was sentenced to time served in Butler County Court on Thursday.
Ralph G. Myers, 37, of East Vandergrift was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months in Butler County Prison by county Judge William Shaffer on Thursday, after Myers entered a guilty plea to felony depositing chemical waste on April 7. He was immediately eligible for parole on completion of a parole plan due to time served.
His attorney, Public Defender Joseph Smith, asked the court to run the sentence concurrent with an Armstrong County case, where Myers was sentenced to nine months for a felony theft charge.
He was also ordered to pay court costs and undergo 18 months of county probation following his parole term.
Myers was initially charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine precursors, depositing chemical waste, misdemeanor knowingly possessing ephedrine, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possessing a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence and several summary traffic violations, following an incident on Route 38 near Washington Road in Washington Township on Oct. 27, 2016.
The other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
State police in Butler pulled over Myers' vehicle after receiving information that Myers was allegedly making and selling methamphetamine in the North Washington area, according to court documents.
Myers did not initially stop the vehicle when police attempted to pull him over, and once stopped, Myers denied having anything illegal in the vehicle, noted police. Following a search, a number of materials used in manufacturing methamphetamine were found, including lithium batteries, Zippo lighter fluid, starter fluid and a cold pack containing ammonium nitrate.
A pill bottle was also found on the ground near the vehicle, belonging to Myers, police said. Inside was suspected meth and two hydrocodone pills. Police said it is believed that Myers threw the bottle out the window of the vehicle before stopping.
Myers was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and taken to Butler Memorial Hospital where a drug recognition expert evaluated him and ruled he was impaired. Myers refused a blood test.
