Theft and drug charges filed against several in district court | News, sports, jobs

Six of them are charged with drug offenses in separate cases

A tip from an informant led to the arrest Tuesday of twice-convicted drug dealer Albert Cunningham, who was taken into custody on two counts: possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver a control substance and one count of possession of a firearm, according to an affidavit from the county drug enforcement unit. Information provided to drug investigators this week led them to believe that Cunningham, 32, had allegedly been dealing drugs from his apartment at 917 Washington Blvd. at “all hours of the day and night” for about “three months” the court document says. While executing a search warrant at the home on Tuesday, investigators seized a handgun hidden under a mattress in Cunningham's bedroom, as well as 73 grams of marijuana in a backpack and six grams of cocaine in his wallet, the affidavit said. Cunningham, 32, admitted the backpack was his, police said. Cunningham, whose arrest dates back to 2013, was arraigned before District Judge Gary Whiteman and remanded to the Lycoming County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. During arraignment, he told the judge he now lives at 2624 W. Fourth St.

In another case, a tip to law enforcement also led to new charges being filed against convicted felon Eric McQuillen, 48, after Lycoming County investigators discovered 11 marijuana plants in a county “hidden space” in his basement when they executed a search warrant at his Montoursville home, 1019 Spruce St., on Aug. 27, according to an affidavit filed in Whiteman's office. The search also discovered and seized a handgun that McQuillen had in his bedroom, the court document said. Charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver a controlled substance and convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm. He is free on $25,000 bail.

In another case, illegal window tint and a turn signal violation led motorist Ashley N. Smith to be pulled over by a police officer at about 12:15 a.m. Oct. 18 at Northway Road and Shiffler Avenue in Loyalsock Township, according to an affidavit became. Smith, 36, 950 Main St., Apartment 21, South Williamsport, was “excessively nervous and sweating profusely” the court document says. The officer decided to seize Smith's 2008 Kia Rio and obtain a warrant to search the vehicle, police said. An estimated 47 grams of cocaine was discovered in the car, the affidavit states. Smith was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver a controlled substance before Whiteman, Smith was arraigned before District Judge Kirsten Gardner and released on $50,000 bail.

In a separate case, additional drug charges were filed against Kareem Gadson, 32, formerly of the 3200 block of Route 654, according to court documents filed by the county drug unit. Gadson, who now lives in New York City, is said to have sold 58 Ecstasy pills to an undercover officer on West Southern Avenue in South Williamsport as early as mid-January 2022, a criminal complaint says. Gadson was charged with delivery of a controlled substance and illegal use of a cell phone. He was recently arraigned before District Judge Christian Frey and remanded to the county jail in lieu of an additional $100,000 bond. He was tried on those charges as well as other offenses in which he was accused of selling drugs to undercover officers on two further occasions in early 2022.

In another case, Tyrone James O'Connell, 36, of 657 Krouse Ave., waived his preliminary hearing on Lycoming Area Police charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine and marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from an incident at Campbell Street and Memorial Avenue in the city on July 12, according to an affidavit. Lycoming Regional Police participated in a statewide DUI patrol and stopped O'Connell's 2007 Jeep Commander for a vehicle code violation, the affidavit said. O'Connell remains free on $5,000 bail set by District Judge Aaron Biichle.

In another case, 41-year-old Lindsay K. Allen of Williamsport also waived her preliminary hearing before Biichle on city police charges of possession of a controlled substance (seven Gabapentin pills without a prescription), disorderly conduct and public intoxication after one Incident in the 600 block of Walnut Street on February 20th. Initially detained, she has since been released on $5,000 bail.

Montoursville man allegedly stole vehicle

Robert F. Finnegan, 58, of the rear of 514 Weldon St., Montoursville, faces additional charges on county police charges of larceny and receiving stolen property after he stole David Crouse's 2006 BMW from Crouse's property at 4023 Bloomingrove Road stole in Loyalsock Township on July 15, an affidavit alleged.

Finnegan was the previous owner of the car, but Crouse was the legal owner at the time of the theft, police said, adding that Finnegan admitted to stealing the vehicle, the court document said.

He was arraigned on both charges after a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Solomon. He is free on $30,000 bail.