Drug charges added to shoplifting
MIDDLESEX TWP — A suspected shoplifter landed in more trouble Wednesday night when correctional officers later found him with several empty bags at the Butler County Prison.
Middlesex Township police also found similar bags on or near his seat in the cruiser that took him to the prison.
Cody J. White, 27, of Butler is being held on $20,000 bail. He faces felony retail theft and misdemeanor drug-related charges.
Police had been looking for White since Aug. 14 when they obtained an arrest warrant for him in connection with a shoplifting incident at the Planet Mart store on Route 8 in Penn Township.
He is accused of swiping two packages of honey buns, two cinnamon rolls and other snacks, totaling $13.53, on Aug. 11.
Since the defendant has two prior shoplifting convictions, he is charged with a felony count of retail theft. He also is charged with driving with a suspended license.
Cranberry Township on Wednesday arrested White on the warrant. He was turned over to Middlesex police.
During an interview at the station, authorities said, he allegedly confessed to Middlesex Patrolman Bryan Costanzo, the investigating officer.
The officer eventually took White to the prison. When Costanzo took him out of the car, he found one empty glassine bag of suspected heroin where the defendant had been seated and another empty bag on the floor.
Police said White also was caught with a syringe cap.
While the defendant was being searched at the prison, authorities said, guards found him with six additional empty stamp bags of suspected heroin.
District Judge Lewis Stoughton on Wednesday video arraigned White only on charges in the shoplifting case. Police on Thursday charged him separately by summons with misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of contraband.
But at White's arraignment, Costanzo advised Stoughton that the defendant was caught allegedly trying to bring drug contraband into the prison.
The judge set bail and ordered White to be placed on pretrial supervision upon his release. Among those conditions are that he report to probation authorities and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.
He also must submit to drug testing every Wednesday.
