Butler man, 38, pleads guilty in 2 drug cases
A Butler man pleaded guilty in county court in two drug-related cases Wednesday.
Jesse J. Markovitz, 38, pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and summary driving on a suspended license in two cases before President Judge Thomas Doerr.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 15 to 30 months with immediate parole on time-served, followed by probation and fines.
He is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 18.
Markovitz was initially charged with misdemeanor flight to avoid apprehension, possession of drug paraphernalia, summary driving on a suspended license and having an illegal license plate after an incident June 17, 2016, following an adult probation home check.
Police said Markovitz had hundreds of empty stamp bags of suspected heroin, used syringes and a drug cooking spoon at his then-home on the 200 block of East Patterson Avenue.
He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor paraphernalia charge in that case.
Markovitz was later charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of contraband by an inmate, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a firearm prohibited after an incident Oct. 21, 2016.
Those charges also resulted from a probation check of his apartment in the 300 block of East Brady Street, where more than 170 bags of heroin, syringes and drug paraphernalia were found throughout his apartment, police said.
Probation officers found a total of 172 full stamp bags, as well as a trash can which held heroin bundles and a cigarette box containing more empty bags and one bundle of full stamp bags.
Police said they also found two digital scales, two cell phones and a .410 bolt-action Savage Model 58 shotgun with two rounds in its magazine and a shell in the chamber.
Because Markovitz has a felony drug violation, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm, police said.
After being taken to Butler County Prison, he was searched and found in possession of 40 stamp bags of heroin hidden in his shoe, police said.
He continues to be held in the Butler County Prison on $75,000 bail pending sentencing.
