CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion man jailed on drug and related charges waived his preliminary hearing on Tuesday in Clarion County Central Court.
According to court documents, 45-year-old Michael Eugene Stewart, of Clarion, (pictured above) waived his hearing on an August 10 case and a September 1 case.
His cases were transferred to the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.
He faces the following charges from the August 10, 2017 incident:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possessing Phenylpropanolamine, etc., or a Precursor Substance with Intent to Unlawfully Manufacture, Felony
– Operating a Methamphetamine Lab, Felony 2
– Knowingly Possessing Ephedrine, Misdemeanor (six counts)
– Hinder Apprehension/Prosecution-Provide Aid, Misdemeanor 2
He is also facing the following charges from the September 1, 2017 incident:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony (six counts)
– Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony (six counts)
– Possessing Phenylpropanolamine, etc., or a Precursor Substance with Intent to Unlawfully Manufacture, Felony (six counts)
– Operating a Methamphetamine Lab, Felony 2 (six counts)
– Deposits, Stores, Disposes Chemical Waste, Felony 3 (22 counts)
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
He remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail on $25,000.00 monetary bail for each case.
The cases are working their way through the court system.
The preliminary hearing for 23-year-old David Wayne Brandon, of Emlenton, was rescheduled for 10:15 a.m. on October 3 in front of Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn.
Brandon faces the following charges:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possessing Phenylpropanolamine, etc., or a Precursor Substance with Intent to Unlawfully Manufacture, Felony
– Operating a Methamphetamine Lab, Felony 2
– Knowingly Possessing Ephedrine, Misdemeanor
The preliminary hearing for 19-year-old Bradley Richard Elder, of Emlenton, is scheduled for October 3 on the following charges:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possessing Phenylpropanolamine, etc., or a Precursor Substance with Intent to Unlawfully Manufacture, Felony
– Operating a Methamphetamine Lab, Felony 2
– Knowingly Possessing Ephedrine, Misdemeanor (six counts)
– Hinder Apprehension/Prosecution-Provide Aid, Misdemeanor 2
Brandon and Elder remain lodged in the Clarion County Jail on $25,000.00 each.
Details of the case:
A police search of a Clarion residence led to the arrests.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Clarion-based State Police, around 7:19 p.m. on August 10, Clarion County Adult Probation Officer Kerle contacted Trooper Allison, of PSP Clarion, to be on the lookout for Brandon, who was driving a red Dodge Stratus in the Clarion area.
The complaint states that about an hour later, Trooper Allison saw the car parked beside a trailer occupied by Stewart.
Authorities determined Brandon was in the area, the complaint states.
Shortly afterward, authorities observed two men leave the trailer, open the door of the Stratus, and then go back inside the trailer. At that point, Officer Kerle recognized Brandon, the complaint indicates.
When authorities approached the trailer, they could hear “Happy Birthday” being sung before they announced their presence. A man’s voice said they could enter, and when they did, they saw Brandon and another man, Elder, start to run, according to the complaint.
Both got out of the trailer, but were taken into custody by probation officers.
A syringe was found in Brandon’s pocket, and after a search of Brandon’s vehicle, ingredients needed to make meth were discovered, the complaint states.
Brandon admitted to living in the trailer for a few months, according to the complaint.
When officers searched Elder, they found a syringe with liquid meth in it and a white, plastic container with meth in it, the complaint indicates.
Stewart agreed to a search the trailer. In the bathroom, authorities found a Mason jar, coffee filters, starter fluid, lye, and drain cleaner. Officers also observed a strong odor that they recognized with the manufacturing of methamphetamine, the complaint continues.
According to the complaint, Stewart said he knew Brandon had a warrant for his arrest.
Around 10:39 p.m. 49-year-old Donna Marie Planke, of Clarion, was interviewed. She stated that she and Brandon went to the Clarion Walmart, and Brandon asked her to buy Claritin D.
She stated that she knew that the Claritin D was going to be used to manufacture methamphetamine. She also indicated that Brandon, Elder, and Stewart all participated in the process of cooking the methamphetamine by entering the bathroom at separate times throughout the cooking process, according to the complaint.
Planke was arrested on September 11 on methamphetamine-related charges.
She was lodged in the Clarion County Jail on $50,000.00 monetary bail.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on October 3 with Judge Quinn presiding.
