A Bradford man who is accused of making methamphetamine in a girl’s bedroom had all charges against him bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Dominic Cercone.
William T. Puskar, 35, of 197 South Ave., faces the following charges: possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a precursor substance with the intent to manufacture, felonies; manufacturing methamphetamine with a child present and risking catastrophe, third-degree felonies; possession of a controlled substance and possession of ephedrine, misdemeanors; and three counts of recklessly endangering another person, second-degree misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 2, police learned that Puskar was manufacturing meth in the bedroom of a minor girl on East Avenue. Police seized 26 items from the home allegedly related to manufacturing meth, including a plastic pop bottle with metallic objects inside that appeared to be a “one pot” or “shake and bake” meth operation, according to the complaint.
A state police Clandestine Lab Team was brought in to recover items related to the meth operation, and the mother was told the home would need to be professionally cleaned and a placard placed on the door.
Puskar remains incarcerated in McKean County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
In another preliminary hearing before Cercone, Dylan J. Dinch, 22, of 18328 U.S. Route 6, East Smethport, had one charge against him — aggravated assault, a first-degree felony — bound to McKean County Court, while three other charges were dismissed. Dismissed were two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit theft.
The criminal complaint indicates that just before 10 p.m. Nov. 16, he and Andrew Meadows assaulted a man on Boylston Street in Bradford. During the alleged incident, which involved at least five people, Meadows punched the man a couple of times, and the man fell to the ground; then, Dinch punched him once, knocking him out, according to the complaint.
Dinch is free, having posted $30,000 bail.
Obot E. Essien, 29, of Bradford, had the following charges against him bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Richard Luther: possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, a felony; criminal use of a communication facility, a third-degree felony; and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint, Essien arranged a sale over social media with a confidential informant of the McKean County Drug Task Force for an “8 ball of cocaine for $200 cash,” the complaint stated. Detectives set up surveillance for the sale, which allegedly took place on Nov. 27.
Jonathan Johnson, 32, of 56 Amm St., Bradford, had the following charges against him bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Cercone: terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor; and summary disorderly conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 1, Johnson drove onto Bushnell Street near Kiwanis Court, stopped his vehicle and got into an altercation with another man. Police said that during the argument, Johnson got out of his vehicle “with a long-blade edge weapon” with the intent to terrorize the victim. When Johnson was placed under arrest, officers found him to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Johnson is incarcerated in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Kenneth R. F. Bell, 23, of 174 Elm St. Apt. 1, pleaded guilty Wednesday before Cercone to one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, misdemeanors. Meanwhile, the following were withdrawn: one count each of the above charges, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and a summary charge.
Bell was charged after police searched his car on Oct. 18. He is free on unsecured bail.
Theodore R. Wiltse Jr., 56, of Bradford, had misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and harassment withdrawn. He pleaded guilty before Luther to a charge of summary harassment.
Calvin L. Teeter III, 22, of 89 Davis St., lower apartment, Bradford, had misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and simple assault against him withdrawn. Teeter pleaded guilty before Cercone to a summary charge of harassment.
