Crucible couple resentenced on drug charges
WAYNESBURG – A Crucible man found guilty by a Greene County jury in March of possessing heroin, some of which was found in places in his home easily accessible to his 3-year-old stepchild, was resentenced Friday by Greene County Judge William Nalitz 8 to 23 ½ months in jail.
Jeffrey Christopher Speer, 26, of 101 B Crucible Road, was convicted at trial March 17 of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of heroin one gram or more, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a child.
Speer was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison June 26. Ruling on post-trial motions, Nalitz affirmed his conviction, but ordered Speer be resentenced based on a question regarding the constitutionality of the statute under which he received a mandatory minimum sentence.
As part of his new sentence, Speer also was fined $1,000 and given credit for time served.
Speer was arrested by Cumberland Township police April 23, 2013, at the home he shared with his girlfriend, Melinda Puckett, 23, who also was resentenced last week for violating conditions of her parole.
A search of the residence yielded numerous stamp bags of heroin, as well as stamp bags containing heroin residue, inside a child’s basinet and diaper bag and in other areas accessible to Speer’s 3-year-old stepchild.
Police went to the home to assist Greene County Children and Youth Services, which had an open investigation involving the couple, according to the criminal complaint.
Police said they also received a tip of illegal drug activity at the home.
Puckett permitted a CYS caseworker and police to enter the residence. Police also were given permission to use a police K9 to search the residence.
Puckett later retracted permission for the search and was taken into custody while a search warrant was obtained. While waiting for the warrant, Puckett told police she had heroin on her and removed seven stamp bags from her bra.
After obtaining the warrant, police searched the residence and found 197 empty stamp bags and a kit containing 63 stamp bags of heroin, snorting straws, rubber bands, tape and $162.
Stamp bags, some containing residue, were found inside the bassinet, in a diaper bag, next to baby bottles in a rear bedroom, inside a box of crayons and on the floor of the child’s bedroom.
They also were found on the couch, under couch cushions and in other locations accessible to the child.
Puckett pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was sentenced to 6 to 23 ½ months in jail.
Puckett was resentenced Thursday by Nalitz after her initial sentence was revoked for violating conditions of her parole.
Her new sentence calls for three years in the county intermediate punishment, which will include 60 days in jail followed by inpatient treatment for addiction.