District Attorney Richard Goldinger's “Not In My Backyard” anti-drug initiative is being promoted by posters being made available by the Butler Eagle. In this photo, guns, money and suspected drugs from a recent criminal case are pictured.

Posters going up in Butler businesses promote District Attorney Richard Goldinger's “Not In My Backyard” anti-drug initiative.

The posters, sponsored by the Butler Eagle, feature the new program, which seeks higher bail amounts and sentences for both local and transient drug dealers in felony cases.

Goldinger said the initiative is aimed at targeting drug dealers to help spread the message that they are not welcome in Butler County.

“It is a really good way to get the word out,” he said. “We want the drug dealers charged with felonies to have higher bonds set on them by the magistrates to keep them off the streets and higher sentencing to show drug dealers that if they are caught, they will be sent to state prison.”

Goldinger said the policy change within his office, which included the request for higher bail and sentencing in drug cases, came about in response to the escalating community drug problem, and associated crimes.

“Since New Year's Eve we have had four nonrelated homicides, however, all those incidents were related to the drug culture in the county,” he said. “If we are now going to have escalated violence, we have to do something different here.”

Detective Tim Fennell, coordinator of the Butler County Drug Task Force, previously said he was familiar with Goldinger's plan and agrees that it can be an effective course of action.

Goldinger said his office is now asking for the higher sentences, which for a first-offense heroin dealer can include state prison for at least 12 months. In regards to bail, Goldinger said he is asking magisterial district judges to impose higher bails to keep accused drug dealers off the streets while awaiting disposition of their cases.

“True drug dealers don't care if they have an arrest,” he said. “If they are out on the streets, they will continue to deal while charges are pending. We want to keep that from happening.”

Goldinger said he has received support from the county judges, as well as the magistrates in regards to the requests for tougher sentencing and bail.

County President Judge Thomas Doerr previously said he backs the plan.

Typically, drug cases can see bail set anywhere from “released on their own recognizance” to $25,000 cash bond, but Goldinger said he expects to see more $100,000 bonds coming, depending on the amount of drugs seized.

He said plea bargains will be extended to allow for pleas to felony charges and associated state prison time, with the condition that other charges be dropped, but if a defendant wants “to roll the dice and go to trial” his office will prosecute to the fullest extent, which could increase prison time.

“We need to get our community cleaned up and sending a message to the out-of-town drug dealers, as well as those locally,” he said. “They need to know that coming here is taking a risk of going to state prison.”

Goldinger said this will apply to nearly every felony drug case, especially to heroin, cocaine and other deadly drugs.

In the coming week, Goldinger said 22 felony drug cases are making their way through the county court, which has been “pretty typical” recently.

Members of the community who see drug activity, or are looking for more information regarding the program, are encouraged to contact the Butler County Drug Task Force at 724-284-5225 or the anonymous tip line at 1-800-363-3784.

People interested in displaying one of the posters can pick up a copy at the Butler Eagle's front office, located at 114 W. Diamond St., during normal business hours.