Suspect in drug case to undergo treatment
Following a hearing in Butler County Court on Wednesday, a man charged with conspiring to distribute illegal drugs was released to inpatient treatment pending the outcome of the charges against him.
Wayne R. Johnson, 34, was released upon the availability of a bed in an inpatient facility after the hearing before county Judge Timothy McCune.
His attorney, public defender Charles Nedz, said while in the jail, Johnson received a drug and alcohol assessment which recommended he undergo inpatient drug treatment, leading to the bail modification request.
Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford informed the court that inpatient treatment was a condition of the plea that was currently being worked out in the case, and the prosecution had no objection to his release to a program. She also asked for the condition that if Johnson leaves the program before completion, that he be detained.
Johnson was charged with felony criminal use of a communications facility and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia following a Feb. 10 incident in Buffalo Township. During a home compliance check by Butler County Adult Probation officers at Johnson's Park Drive home, police said he was allegedly found hiding and holding a cell phone which police said contained text messages between Johnson and someone named “Chop” discussing the sale of “bricks” of heroin.
The Butler County Drug Task Force charged him after a search of the phone allegedly revealed multiple text messages regarding buying and selling heroin as well as crack cocaine, police said.
Inside the home, officers allegedly found two digital scales, drug-packaging materials, 10 hypodermic needles, two crack pipes and six empty bags of suspected heroin, police said.
Johnson was held in the Butler County Prison on $20,000 bail, as well as two probation detainers in older cases, which were lifted.
He is scheduled for a June 28 hearing and June 29 for jury selection in the case.
