Man sentenced in drug case
A Pittsburgh man, charged alongside four others with drug distribution, was sentenced to county prison. He also pleaded guilty to a second case charged against him in Butler County Court on Thursday.
Marcus A. Wells, 23, was sentenced to 30 days to six months in Butler County Prison, and with credit for time served, he was immediately paroled by Judge Timothy McCune.
However, Wells faces charges in Allegheny County, and continues to be detained on those charges until he can be transported there.
Wells was also ordered to undergo 18 months of county probation following the expiration of his parole, pay $200 in fines, court costs and restitution if due, complete 25 hours of community service and undergo any recommended counseling.
Wells previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana on Sept. 27, after being charged with two counts of felony possession with intent to deliver, one count of criminal conspiracy, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and two counts of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, after an incident on March 22. All other charges were dismissed as part of the plea.
He was charged along with Maryrose M. Hatfield, 37, of Butler Township; Bryant K. Wells Jr., 26, and Jemeal M. Youngblood, 19, both of Pittsburgh; and Breanna J. Aldrich, 18, of Connellsville following an investigation by the Butler County Drug Task Force into alleged drug sales at a Lyndora apartment since mid-February.
Following a search warrant of the location, 215 stamp bags of suspected heroin, about 9 grams of crack cocaine packaged for sale, a small amount of marijuana and $664 in cash as well as multiple cell phones were found, according to court records.
Following arraignment, Marcus Wells was held on $50,000 bail; Wells Jr. was held on $75,000 cash bail and was later sentenced to two to four years in state prison; Hatfield continues to be held on $25,000 bail and was sentenced to 15 to 30 months in state prison after pleading guilty; Youngblood was held on $50,000 bail and was recently released on his own recognizance after his bail changed pending further court proceedings; and Aldrich awaits further proceedings after posting her $25,000 bail the day after the charges were filed.
Wells also entered a guilty plea Thursday to felony theft, after being charged with the theft of a 2001 Yamaha YFZ450 motorcycle, valued at $2,500, from a garage in the 200 block of West New Castle Street on Jan. 22.
The charges followed an investigation by the police Western Regional Auto Theft Task Force. The vehicle was later recovered.
During an interview, according to court documents, Wells at first denied wrongdoing and claimed he bought the vehicle for $200. Later, however, he “confessed to the burglary and theft of the motorcycle,” a police affidavit said.
