Two face charges in Charleroi crack cocaine case
CHARLEROI – A felon from Charleroi is wanted on charges he used a borough apartment to store crack reportedly worth more than $10,000, and the mother of his children turned herself in on related charges Thursday, court records show.
Charleroi Regional police secured an arrest warrant for James T. Novak, 27, of 706 Meadow Ave., on charges that include drug possession with intent to deliver and possession of a stolen handgun, police stated in the affidavit.
Lindsay D. Redlinger, 25, of the same address, is free on $50,000 bond set Thursday by District Judge Larry Hopkins.
Police said they discovered the drugs Dec. 14 after being called to the apartment about 12:30 a.m. over a complaint about a dog having been left there unattended for four days.
Officers said they heard a dog whimpering inside the residence, opened its unlocked door and went to apply for a warrant to search the apartment after they noticed in the living room a smoking bong that smelled like marijuana, the affidavit states.
Police found 381 grams of crack separated into three plastic bags stored in a backpack that was hidden in a drop ceiling in the kitchen, the record indicates.
Police said a loaded 9mm handgun stolen from a Butler man was found under a bedroom mattress, and ammunition for the weapon was scattered around the residence.
Police said they were able to identify the suspects using a receipt for school photographs taken of their children, as well as video surveillance at a local store where Novak recently made a purchase.
Clear plastic bags used to store drugs and other paraphernalia were seized from the residence, as well as some prescription medication and a small amount of marijuana, police said.
Novak pleaded guilty in Allegheny County Court to a felony charge of drug possession with intent to deliver filed in 2009 by McKees Rocks police, and he served a year in jail in the case.
In the latest case, Charleroi police charged him with illegal possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, drug possession, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Redlinger is charged with drug possession with intent to deliver, drug possession, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show.