A Butler woman's latest drug-related case is keeping her in Butler County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond.

District Judge William Fullerton denied a bond reduction request for Melissa M. Cammisa, 36, who appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Monday.

Cammisa is charged with felony drug sales and misdemeanor drug and paraphernalia possession, related to a controlled buy set up in December.

Public defender Kimberly Hudak said Cammisa has a criminal record, but the $100,000 bond seemed high for a controlled buy involving eight stamp bags of heroin, which was lab tested and also contained fentanyl.

“I think the bond at $100,000 is excessive,” Hudak said. “I'd like for it to be cut in half.”

Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford argued against the reduction, using Cammisa's criminal record to make her point. She said the record she had in court is 16 pages long.

A review of online court records shows at least three convictions for misdemeanor drug possession, eight for misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession and one for misdemeanor first-offense DUI on a controlled substance, dating as far back as 2003.

In 2017, Cammisa pleaded guilty to three felonies, including operating a meth lab, possession of chemicals to manufacture drugs and risking catastrophe. She was sentenced to serve a minimum of two years in prison for those charges.

Fullerton said Cammisa may not be getting the help she needs, and he hoped the time spent in jail for these current charges serves as a wake-up call.

“I don't know what the issue is, but right now I'm satisfied with the bond,” he said. “It's appropriate.”

Before the argument for bond, Hudak presented no argument following the preliminary hearing, which focused on testimony provided by Trooper Kurtis Glasgow.

Glasgow described the arranged buy conducted Dec. 2 with marked bills.

“I observed the informant pick up Ms. Cammisa,” he said.

Glasgow said multiple units then followed and watched the vehicle as the buy occurred. He said surveillance video from a hidden camera inside the vehicle has since been compromised, but authorities were able to get a screenshot before the video was no longer usable.

Glasgow said the photograph shows a hand-to-hand transaction between Cammisa and the informant.

Hudak drew attention to the informant during cross-examination. She asked if the informant was in trouble with the law when he told police about Cammisa. Glasgow said he had pending charges, and the informant was not charged due to his cooperation in Cammisa's case.

Glasgow said he was withholding the informant's name for now due to concerns for their safety, but if the need arose the informant would be available to testify at trial.

Fullerton sent all three charges to the county level, where Cammisa will next appear for a formal arraignment Jan. 25.

Hudak had no further comment on her client's behalf following Monday's hearing.