CHICORA — A defense attorney for a man who had a SWAT operation launched on his Fairview Township home argued two charges should be dropped at a Tuesday, March 31, preliminary hearing.

Barry L. Steele Sr., 65, was charged with 13 felony counts of firearms possession without a license, two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, felony receiving stolen property, four misdemeanor counts of repairing weapons and two misdemeanor counts of controlled substance possession following the incident.

Police said they executed a search warrant on Steele’s home March 19 and found 22 bricks of heroin, two partial bricks of heroin, two jars of marijuana, two brass knuckles, 13 firearms, a commercial mortar, a grenade, a blasting cap and $4,429 in Steele’s bedroom.

One of the firearms was reported to be stolen Aug. 24 in Armstrong County, according to Trooper Francis Walters of state police.

Steele’s attorney, Michael Waltman, argued the charges of possession with intent to deliver and receiving stolen property should be dismissed.

Waltman said there was no evidence Steele was continuing to package and distribute controlled substances. He also argued Steele did not know and couldn’t reasonably deduce the firearm was stolen.

Walters conceded police did not find materials to pack more controlled substances when searching the home, and the firearms and explosives were all in weapons cases.

The only thing connecting Steele to a charge of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances was an unsigned note addressed to Steele that said someone had taken “a hit and a bag,” Waltman said.

Waltman also argued there was no testing or weight taken from the bricks of heroin. Walters said they have been sent to a lab for testing.

Waltman also argued Steele should be allowed to return home on electronic monitoring because he hasn’t had any criminal charges since the 1980s, all the items were removed from his home and Steele lives in his childhood home caring for a sibling.

Walters said three other people were living at the home when the search warrant was executed.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton declined to reduce bail and held all charges for court.

Steele’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 19 in Butler County Common Pleas Court. He remains in Butler County Prison on $125,000 bail.