By NATASHA BRENNEMAN
Staff writer
Felony drug charges have been filed in Clarion County against four area residents.
Richard Ganci III and Elizabeth Ganci, both of Tionesta, Shayla Ganci of Lucinda and Joseph Brosius of Hawthorn have been charged for their alleged role in incidents that took place during January and February.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Timothy Schill’s office says a confidential informant was in contact with Shayla Ganci. She agreed to sell the informant five bags of methamphetamine for $100, the complaint said.
A meeting was arranged for 6 p.m. Jan. 10 at Weaver’s Countyline Market off Pine Hollow Road, the complaint said.
Punxsutawney state police trooper Craig Needham and the confidential informant arrived at the designated meeting place, the complaint said. When Shayla Ganci arrived, Richard Ganci was in the vehicle with her and an exchange was made between Richard Ganci and Needham, the complaint said.
After returning to the police barracks, Needham identified the pair with photographs and they were later taken into custody, the complaint said.
Shayla Ganci has been charged with a felony count of criminal use of a communication facility and two felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.
Richard Ganci has been charged with one felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and a misdemeanor count of intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered.
Both Shayla and Richard Ganci were arraigned Wednesday before Schill and placed in the Clarion County jail on $25,000 bail each.
Preliminary hearings in the case have been tentatively set for Tuesday.
A separate complaint filed through Schill’s office says Brosius and Elizabeth Ganci were driving along Interstate 80 on Feb. 18 when they were stopped by state police trooper Tate Allison. Allison completed a traffic stop on the vehicle and discovered active felony arrest warrants for both Brosius and Elizabeth Ganci, the complaint said.
Upon approaching the vehicle, Allison said burnt marijuana could be smelled and a roll of money totaling $669 was found when Brosius was searched, the complaint said.
Both were taken into custody, and Allison began to enter the vehicle to pull it off the roadway when he discovered two syringes, the complaint said.
A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and police located two spoons, a hypodermic needle with an orange cap, two vials, one plastic bag containing white residue and a plastic straw, all found in a black safe, the complaint said.
Police also found a new container of plastic baggies, precursors for making drugs, four metal spoons with residue, a plastic container of rubber bands, a Walmart receipt indicating the purchase of precursors, and a jar with residue, the complaint said.
Also retrieved from the car were two heroin stamp bags and a plastic bag containing methamphetamine, the complaint said.
Brosius has been charged with felony counts of possession of red phosphorous and conspiracy, misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substances by a person not registered and use/possession of drug paraphernalia, and summary counts of driving an unregistered vehicle and allowing the illegal use of a plate or card.
Elizabeth Ganci has been charged with a felony count of possession of red phosphorous, two felony counts of conspiracy and a misdemeanor count of use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were both arraigned before Schill on Thursday and placed in the Clarion County jail on $50,000 bail each.
Preliminary hearings in the case are tentatively scheduled March 14.