Man pleads in courtroom drug case
A Butler man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Butler County Court to possessing and consuming a controlled substance in the courtroom in February.
Ryan C. Mullen, 31, entered the guilty plea to misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance before Judge Timothy McCune.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 11½ to 23½ months in Butler County Prison, as well as fines and court costs. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 5.
Mullen was initially charged with felony possession of a controlled substance by an inmate, conspiracy to that count and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance after an incident at District Judge William Fullerton's office on Feb. 27.
The charge was changed to a misdemeanor as part of the plea, and a second case, where Mullen was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and two misdemeanor counts of simple assault after an incident on Feb. 18, was withdrawn by the prosecution as part of the plea agreement.
Mullen was being held following an alleged knife-wielding attack against another man in the withdrawn case, when police say his mother, Tina L. Rivera, 48, of Butler Township, slipped him a Suboxone strip as he sat in handcuffs in the courtroom awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Mullen was seated with other inmates and Rivera sat down near her son. Two witnesses later reported to police that they had seen Rivera give something to Mullen.
One of the witnesses recounted seeing her remove a Suboxone strip from her purse and give it to Mullen, who had his hands cuffed in front of him. He placed the strip under his tongue, according to the witness account.Mullen was later drug tested, which revealed the drug in his system, and surveillance footage of the courtroom showed Rivera going through her purse before leaning forward and placing something in her son's right hand, and then Mullen turning around away from the camera, leaning over and placing his hands toward his face.Rivera was charged with felony charges of furnishing a controlled substance to an inmate, conspiracy and delivering a controlled substance, conspiracy to contraband and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.Bail was set at $10,000 and posted March 1. She currently awaits further court proceedings.Mullen continues to be held on $50,000 cash bail.
