NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — A Marienville woman accused of transporting dozens of stamp bags of heroin waived her preliminary hearing on Wednesday in front of District Judge Jeffrey Miller in New Bethlehem.
According to court documents the case against 33-year-old Jesika Raine McLaughlin, of Marienville, has been transferred to Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
She faces the following charges:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Intentional Possession of Controlled Substance by Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
Miller changed her bail status, and she now must post 10 percent of her original $40,000.00 monetary bail.
She remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
Her case is working its way through the court system.
Details of the March 31, 2017 Heroin Case:
A criminal complaint filed on April 11 by Clarion-based State Police Trooper Craddock states that he and Clarion County Chief Detective William Peck made contact with a confidential informant who indicated that McLaughlin was in Pittsburgh and was on the way back to Clarion with two bricks of heroin.
The complaint states that Detective Peck and Trooper Craddock traveled to South Bethlehem and began surveillance of Route 66/28. A short time later, a blue Chevrolet Cobalt traveling north passed their position, and the officers observed that McLaughlin was possibly a passenger in the vehicle. A traffic stop was initiated on the car by a member of Clarion-based State Police due to having a headlight out.
Contact was made with the operator of the vehicle who confirmed that McLaughlin was in possession of a controlled substance, according to the criminal complaint.
When McLaughlin was asked if there was anything in the vehicle, she allegedly removed a small bag from her purse and handed it to one of the officers through the passenger window, the complaint indicates.
The bag contained 76 stamp bags of suspected heroin, numerous empty stamp bags, syringes, a spoon, cotton, a section of rope, a glass pipe, and other paraphernalia, the complaint continues.
