Thomas Purcell

A Lyndora man charged with possessing drugs and an illegal weapon was sentenced to probation in Butler County Court Thursday.

Thomas A. Purcell, 25, was sentenced to 12 months county probation, 25 hours of community service and a $40 fine by county Judge Timothy McCune after previously pleading guilty to misdemeanor possession of an illegal offensive weapon.

Purcell was initially charged with the weapons charge, two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on April 6 at an apartment on the 600 block of Bessemer Avenue in Lyndora.

Butler Township police said while serving a bench warrant on Purcell, he was found in possession of two stamp bags of suspected heroin and a switchblade-style knife.

Officers also found in the home a number of empty bags of suspected heroin and a crack pipe belonging to him, police said.

Purcell was placed in the patrol car and asked if he had any other drugs on him. He eventually admitted he did. At the Butler County Prison, police said, he turned over three bags of suspected crack cocaine that he had hidden on him.

Purcell is also awaiting sentencing on Nov. 2 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in an incident charged on May 2, after police say he caused a disturbance at the Butler County Courthouse.

Authorities suspected he was impaired and court staff recommended he undergo a drug-screen evaluation. He began yelling profanities before he left the courtroom and headed to the elevator.

He was eventually arrested and handcuffed. Still, documents said, he struggled, kicked at deputies and continued yelling profanities.