Daniel Cervone

Felony and misdemeanor drug possession charges were bound over to county court during the preliminary hearing for a Butler man charged in February with having nearly half a pound of marijuana.

Daniel N. Cervone, 24, is now scheduled for formal arraignment in Butler County Court on June 19, on charges of felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cervone was charged after an incident on Feb. 12, where state police say a plastic bag containing 228 grams — a little more than half a pound — of marijuana as well as suspected drug contraband was found.

Cervone was initially arrested on Feb. 11 on unrelated burglary and robbery charges after a suspected home invasion in Summit Township. Police obtained a search warrant for Cervone's residence in the 300 block of East Brady Street.

Trooper Christopher Balcik testified during a preliminary hearing that police discovered a plastic bag in the home's attic containing the marijuana, as well as a FoodSaver machine and empty vacuum seal bags.

Balcik said “based on the amount and packaging materials,” Cervone was intending to distribute the marijuana.

He said inside Cervone's bedroom, marijuana paraphernalia was found.

Bail remains at $5,000 pending further court proceedings. Cervone also remains held on $500,000 bail on robbery, trespass and theft charges, after police said he and three other males, brandishing handguns, forced their way into a trailer home on Hyvue Lane and stole $60, a pair of cell phones and a pack of cigarettes.

A family of four — including two young children — were at the home. No one was injured.