Despite calls for dismissals and reductions Monday, two Butler residents accused in a drug bust will face their full allotment of charges and remain in jail on high bonds.

Brought from Butler County Prison, Demond Cash, 49, and Tamela Stevens, 47, appeared before District Judge William Fullerton for a preliminary hearing. The case revolves around an alleged drug bust Feb. 14 at 120 South St., Butler.

Fullerton moved forward all charges against Cash and Stevens, which include felony counts of drug sales, criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a phone, as well as misdemeanor counts of drug and marijuana possession. Fullerton also maintained each of their bonds at $100,000.

During the bust, authorities found 116 stamp bags of heroin, 73.39 grams of marijuana, 40.79 grams of powder cocaine and 3.45 grams of crack cocaine, according to testimony by Det. Kory Fleming of the Butler County Drug Task Force.

Fleming said task force members also found many types of packaging that would be used in the sale of various drugs, such as plastic sandwich bags.

“Some were located with the corners ripped out of them,” said Fleming, referencing a typical packaging method for cocaine.

Fleming said investigators found a lease for the apartment bearing Cash’s name, and they found multiple bills in Stevens’ name alongside the South Street address.

During cross-examination by Public Defender Jennifer Popovich, who represents Stevens, Fleming acknowledged the bills were not found in the bedroom, where all the drugs were found. Popovich later used that point toward her argument for dismissal of the charges.

“Ms. Stevens is not on the lease,” Popovich said. “They also noted she has another residence in Butler.”

Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Simon said there was women’s clothing in the bedroom, and there also were incriminating text messages between the two.

“I don’t believe any of the elements require that I establish her living there,” Simon said.

Fleming provided more information about those text messages, which came from their personal phones. Police arrested Cash and Stevens through a traffic stop after watching them leave the apartment, shortly before authorities executed the search warrant.

Fleming said an additional warrant was obtained to access the phones. He referenced one particular message sent from Stevens’ phone to Cash’s phone.

“Kurt is coming for a bun,” Fleming said. “I believe he said, ‘OK.’”

A “bun” is a common reference for a “bundle” of heroin or fentanyl, which includes 10 stamp bags.

Despite evidence presented Monday, Cash’s attorney, Patrick Casey, called for the dismissing the charges because the drugs were not found on Cash at the time of his arrest.

“The nexus to him is very suspect,” Casey said.

Simon leaned on the photographs showing the various drugs in Cash’s bedroom, as well as summarizing other elements already developed.

“We have the lease agreement,” Simon said. “We have drug dealing conversations between two phones, his and Ms. Stevens.”

Fullerton ultimately agreed, but Casey and Popovich both argued for reductions to their clients’ bonds too. Casey said his client is a longtime resident of the city.

“He’s not going anywhere, your honor,” he said.

Simon handed out a packet holding a criminal history for the court’s review. According to court records, Cash is a convicted felon with seven of those felonies involving drug sales or conspiracy to sell. Though records do not show Stevens as a convicted felon, she has a 2021 case involving felony drug sales that is pending in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Simon said he took issue with a reduction for either.

“The court is well aware of the heroin and fentanyl problem in this community,” Simon said. “We believe that for people dealing these types of substances, $100,000 is sufficient.”

The two are scheduled next for formal arraignment May 17 in county court.