Todd Scialabba

A man placed in the Butler County Prison on a felony arrest warrant landed in even deeper trouble Thursday when he was allegedly busted with suspected cocaine hidden in one of his socks, authorities said.

Todd V. Scialabba, 46, of New Castle is now facing a pair of felony cases.

Butler police came upon Scialabba around 10:40 p.m. July 10 following a traffic stop in the area of Wagner Avenue and West Cunningham Street.

Patrolman William Dobson learned that state police already had an arrest warrant for him, police said. The officer searched the defendant and found nothing illegal.

Afterward, according to charging documents, Dobson asked Scialabba if he had any contraband hidden on him before taking him to the prison for the warrant.

Dobson also warned the defendant of the penalty for getting caught in the county lockup with anything illegal. The defendant claimed he was clean.

But once in the prison, correctional officers found a plastic baggie corner with what appeared to be cocaine in one of Scialabba's socks, documents said.

He was subsequently arraigned on a felony charge of possession of controlled substance contraband by an inmate.

He also was arraigned Thursday on unrelated charges in the state police case. Troopers last month obtained the warrant for Scialabba in connection with an allegedly illegal attempted gun buy in January at a Summit Township store.

He is accused of giving false background information on required paperwork Jan. 11 when he tried to buy a .38 Special revolver at Sportsman's Supply Co.

Scialabba is charged with unlawfully attempting to buy a firearm, a felony, and unsworn falsification to authorities, a misdemeanor.

He remains behind bars on $20,000 bail.