Man sentenced in drug cases
A Butler man was ordered released on parole Friday, after being handed what amounted to a time-served sentence in county court Thursday in two drug-related cases.
Jesse J. Markovitz, 38, was sentenced to 15 to 30 months in Butler County Prison with credit for time served by President Judge Thomas Doerr.
He was also ordered to undergo one year of probation following his parole, pay court costs and $600 in fines and complete 40 hours of community service.
Markovitz pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and summary driving on a suspended license in two cases before Doerr Jan. 10.
He was initially charged with misdemeanor flight to avoid apprehension, possession of drug paraphernalia, summary driving on a suspended license and having an illegal license plate after an incident June 17, 2016, following an adult probation home check.
Butler police said Markovitz had hundreds of empty stamp bags of suspected heroin, used syringes and a drug cooking spoon at his then-home on the 200 block of East Patterson Avenue.
He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor paraphernalia charge in that case.
Several months later, a probation check of his apartment in the 300 block of East Brady Street again resulted in charges.
He was charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of contraband by an inmate, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a firearm prohibited after an incident Oct. 21, 2016.
County detectives said probation officers found 172 full stamp bags, as well as a trash can which held heroin bundles and a cigarette box containing more empty bags and one bundle of full stamp bags, as well as syringes, two digital scales, two cell phones and a .410 bolt-action Savage Model 58 shotgun with two rounds in its magazine and a shell in the chamber.
Because Markovitz has a felony drug violation, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm, police said.
After being taken to jail, he was searched and found in possession of 40 stamp bags of heroin hidden in his shoe, police said.
Markovitz said during the proceeding that he now has a “strong foundation to stay clean and sober.”
