PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man is facing multiple court hearings this week in relation to the sale of methamphetamine, cocaine, stolen guns, and other charges.
Court documents indicate 21-year-old Drew Maines is scheduled to stand for preliminary hearings in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, on the following charges:
Charges from incident on May 27, 2019:
– Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 1
– Criminal Trespass-Break Into Structure, Felony 2
– Criminal Mischief, Felony 3
– Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Felony 3
Charges from incident on September 10, 2019:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
Charges from incident on September 17, 2019:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
Charges from incident on November 14, 2019:
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 2
Charges from incident on November 15, 2019:
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 2
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– Receiving Stolen Property, Misdemeanor 1
Additional charges from incident on November 15, 2019:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
Charges from incident on November 18, 2019:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
Charges from incident on January 23, 2020:
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver
– Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, Felony 3
Details of the Cases:
Burglary
According to a criminal complaint, on May 27, 2019, Trooper Suprano of the Punxsutawney-based State Police was assigned to investigate a report of a burglary in progress at a residence on Windy Whiz Road in Punxsutawney.
The complaint states a witness had advised two males in their early twenties had fled the scene in a flat black sedan with black and fluorescent pink/bright orange rims. The vehicle was described as having dents down the side of the vehicle, and the driver’s side door handle matches the rims. The witness also had direct face-to-face interaction with the suspects and had confronted them in person.
Trooper Suprano also interviewed a second witness who reported having seen suspicious activity in the area a week prior to the reported burglary. The second witness reported witnessing a black spray-painted sedan with orange or pink wheels in the area, driving past his residence. The witness said he then found “KKK” spray-painted on a large rock near his residence in bright fluorescent orange paint.
At the victim’s residence, Trooper Suprano found no one inside, but observed substantial damage to the interior of the residence. According to the complaint, motor oil was spilled throughout the residence, including the living room and kitchen floors, where it saturated the carpeting. The kitchen cabinets were broken, pictures and picture frames were broken, and mirrors were shattered. The walls were graffitied with fluorescent orange and pink spray-paint including obscenities, “KKK,” and a swastika symbol.
The complaint states evidence on the scene indicated someone had forced entry into the residence through the side door, which lead to an enclosed sunroom, near where the first witness had observed Maines’ vehicle parked. Large white trash bags filled with DVD movies were found inside, and numerous DVDs were scattered through the residence, displaced from their original storage location on shelves. The complaint notes it appeared the DVDs had been packaged in garbage bags and staged near the doorway where the forced entry was suspected to have occurred.
On May 29, Trooper Suprano spoke to the victim, who indicated the house was in such disarray she could not determine if items inside were missing or stolen. She was, however, able to provide an invoice sheet for the total amount of damages, repair, and cleaning needed. The invoice indicated a total of $8,966.64 in damages.
The description of the suspect vehicle was disseminated throughout the Punxsutawney-based State Police Patrol Section. The multiple witness accounts of the vehicle indicated it was a spray-painted or primer black finished sedan, possibly a Nissan, Toyota, or Mazda, with bring pink/orange colored rims, bright pink/orange colored driver’s side door handle, and large dents along the body of the vehicle.
On June 16, Cpl. Means of the Punxsutawney-based State Police contacted Trooper Suprano to advise he had located a Nissan Altima parked along Altman Avenue Extension and Juneau Road which matched the unique description of the vehicle through to be connected to the burglary. The registration was checked and the vehicle was found to belong to Drew Patrick Maines.
On June 16, the first witness also called and notified Trooper Suprano she had observed the vehicle, which she positively identified as the same one used during the time of the burglary, parked along Juneau Road and Altman Avenue Extension.
According to the complaint, on August 13, the first witness positively identified Maines from a photo lineup as one of the suspects who was present during the time of the burglary.
Maines was then apprehended and arrested on November 15, in relation to a separate investigation. He was then questioned regarding the burglary investigation, and confirmed he previously owned the Nissan that was spray-painted black with bright orange colored wheels/rims.
According to the complaint, Maines stated he never allowed anyone else to operate his vehicles and said he had since discarded it because the engine “blew up.” He noted the vehicle broke down along Altman Avenue Extension and Juneau Road, where it was discovered by Cpl. Means.
Maines was then questioned about his role in the burglary, and allegedly denied any involvement. The complaint notes he stated “do you have any idea what it’s like being an addict,” and insisted he could not remember. He also allegedly explained that he has difficulty remembering day-to-day activities as a result of his drug use and addiction. He was also unwilling to discuss the identification of the second individual who was believed to have participated in the burglary.
The complaint notes the paint used was similar to that used on a vehicle belonging to Drew Patrick Maines.
Receiving Stolen Property
According to a criminal complaint, on September 10, a burglary was reported at a residence in Green Township, Indiana county, during which a Palmetto State Armory Ar-15, a Vortex Strike Eagle Scope, a green 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun with a skull design on it, and a 20 gauge Mossberg shotgun with a light brown wooden stock were taken.
According to the complaint, during the course of the investigation, 20-year-old Brandon Henry Wolfe became a suspect and was ultimately arrested for the burglary.
Wolfe was then interviewed by police. During the interview, Wolfe allegedly admitted to entering the Green Township residence on two separate occasions, during which he took the guns.
The complaint notes Wolfe told police during the first entry, he took the Palmetto AR-15 and took it to Punxsutawney, where he traded it to Drew Patrick Maines for a “ball” of methamphetamine. He went on to report that after he went back and took the other guns, he also transported them to Maines for an additional two and a half “balls” of methamphetamine.
According to the complaint, in a second, later interview, Wolfe told police Maines was known to sell drugs at a residence on Cherry Street in Punxsutawney Borough, and stated that the last time he spoke to Maines, he was under the impression that Maines was still in possession of the guns.
On October 26, a confidential informant was utilized and was able to confirm that Maines still had possession of at least the AR-15 rifle and was interested in selling it, according to the complaint.
An undercover trooper from the Punxsutawney-based State Police then arranged, via text messages and phone calls with Maines, a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from him. During the purchase, the trooper also made arrangements to purchase the riffle.
According to the complaint, after communicating via text message to arrange a time and place to purchase the rifle, the undercover trooper arrived at the Cherry Street residence and purchased the rifle from Maines. The complaint notes Maines also included in the purchase two Palmetto State Armory magazines that were fully loaded with live .223 rounds and approximately 279 additional live .223 rounds.
First Controlled Methamphetamine Purchase
According to a criminal complaint, around 2:45 p.m. on September 9, 2019, Trooper Rupp of the Punxsutawney-based State Police contacted a confidential informant (CI) by phone after receiving information that the CI was able to purchase methamphetamine from Drew Maines in Punxsutawney Borough.
According to the complaint, the CI then contacted Maines via Facebook Messenger and was able to arrange the purchase of methamphetamine for $300 and cocaine for $250, with the exchange to take place the following day.
On September 10, the CI arrived at a Cherry Street location agreed upon by Maines and knocked at the door, then entered the residence. The complaint notes the CI exited the same door approximately four minutes later and turned two small green ziplock baggies over to Trooper Rupp. According to the complaint, one baggie contained what appeared to be methamphetamine, and the other contained what appeared to be cocaine.
The complaint states the CI reported he/she dealt directly with Maines for the purchase of methamphetamine and cocaine.
The substances were then weighted, and NIC tested before being entered into evidence. According to the complaint, the one baggie contained 5.1 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, and the other contained 3.7 grams of a substance that tested positive for cocaine.
Second Controlled Methamphetamine Purchase
According to a criminal complaint, around 9:35 a.m. on September 16, 2019, Trooper Rupp contacted a confidential informant (CI) by text message to arrange a second purchase from Drew Maines. The CI then contacted Maines and was able to arrange the purchase of an ounce of methamphetamine for $1,000, to take place on September 17 at an address on Cherry Street in Punxsutawney. It was arranged that an undercover officer would accompany the CI into the residence and act as the actual buyer of the methamphetamine.
The complaint notes on September 16, around 3:30 p.m., the CI contacted Trooper Rupp and reported Maines had been in contact with him/her to say the methamphetamine they planned to purchase was cut with fentanyl.
On September 17, the CI and the undercover officer proceeded to the Cherry Street residence and knocked at the door. According to the complaint, they were permitted entry by an unknown juvenile female, and then walked through the kitchen to the living room, where Maines was sitting on a couch, and the unnamed homeowner was sitting on a mattress that was laying on the floor in the corner of the room.
The complaint notes a dark-colored backpack, which the CI later said belonged to Maines and was used for transporting drugs, was lying on the floor beside Maines’s right leg.
According to the complaint, when they entered the room, Maines almost immediately produced a clear ziplock baggie containing suspected methamphetamine from the front left pocket of his shorts and handed it to the undercover trooper. The undercover officer then handed Maines $1,000 in confidential State Police funds. The officer also asked Maines about the amount of fentanyl contained in the methamphetamine under the guise of being concerned with accidental overdose. Maines alleged stated he “didn’t believe there was a whole lot of fentanyl” in the methamphetamine, and said “overdoses shouldn’t be an issue” unless a user “overdid it.”
The CI and the undercover officer exited the residence a short time later, according to the complaint.
The complaint notes the substance was later weighed and found to be 22.5 grams. It was not NIC tested due to the potential it contained fentanyl and was instead forwarded to the PSP Erie Regional laboratory for analysis.
Third Controlled Methamphetamine Purchase
According to a criminal complaint, around 1:30 p.m. on November 4, 2019, an undercover officer contacted Drew Maines by text message to arrange the purchase of methamphetamine in Punxsutawney, and was able to arrange the purchase of “two 8-balls of methamphetamine” for $250, to take place on November 7 at an address on Cherry Street in Punxsutawney.
According to the complaint, the officer arrived at the location around 10:20 a.m. on November 7 and knocked on the door. The homeowner then opened the door and advised that Drew Maines was not at the residence. However, she allowed the officer inside while she attempted to message and call Maines.
The complaint notes after several minutes of failed attempts to contact Maines, the officer left the residence. He then received a message from Maines stating he was in the process of obtaining the methamphetamine from his source and would be in touch “when he was able to do the deal.” Arrangements were then made for the officer to meet Maines at a convenience store in Punxsutawney Borough.
The officer arrived at the store about 1:00 p.m. and called Maines to say what he was driving and where he was parked. According to the complaint, Maines appeared on foot while the officer was on the phone with him and then entered the front passenger seat of the undercover vehicle and placed the backpack he had been carrying on the passenger side floor. Maines then allegedly handed the officer a ziplock baggie, with an orange skull picture on the bag, containing suspected methamphetamine, and the officer provided Maines with $350 in confidential State Police funds. Maines then requested a ride back to the Cherry Street residence, due to the weather, and the officer drove him back and dropped him off.
The baggie of suspected methamphetamine was transported to the Punxsutawney-based State Police barracks, where it was photographed, weighed, NIC tested, and entered into evidence. The substance weighed 7.9 grams and tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the complaint.
Controlled Purchase of Firearm and Methamphetamine
According to a criminal complaint, on November 14, 2019, an undercover officer purchased a stolen AR-15 style rifle from Drew Maines at a residence in Punxsutawney Borough. The complaint states following the purchase of the rifle, the undercover officer also made arrangements to purchase an “8-ball” of methamphetamine from Maines at a public park the following day.
Maines was then taken into custody on November 15, prior to the officer’s arrival at the meeting location. According to the complaint, Maines was found to be in possession of two baggies containing suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, and multiple small empty ziplock baggies, identical to one of the baggies containing suspected methamphetamine.
The complaint notes both of the baggies of substance were NIC tested, and tested positive for methamphetamine.
Investigation and Search of Residence
According to a criminal complaint, on September 10, a burglary was reported at a residence in Green Township during which a Palmetto State Armory Ar-15, a Vortex Strike Eagle Scope, a green 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun with a skull design on it, and a 20 gauge Mossberg shotgun with a light brown wooden stock were taken.
According to the complaint, during the course of the investigation, 20-year-old Brandon Henry Wolfe became a suspect and was ultimately arrested for the burglary.
Wolfe was then interviewed by police. During the interview, Wolfe allegedly admitted to entering the Green Township residence on two separate occasions, during which he took the guns.
The complaint notes Wolfe told police during the first entry, he took the Palmetto AR-15 and took it to Punxsutawney, where he traded it to Drew Patrick Maines for a “ball” of methamphetamine. He went on to report that after he went back and took the other guns, he also transported them to Maines for an additional two and a half “balls” of methamphetamine.
According to the complaint, in a second, later interview, Wolfe told police Maines was known to sell drugs at a residence on Cherry Street in Punxsutawney Borough, and stated that the last time he spoke to Maines, he was under the impression that Maines was still in possession of the guns.
The complaint stated on November 14, an undercover officer purchased the stolen Palmetto State Armory AR-15 style rifle from Maines at a residence in Punxsutawney Borough.
On November 15, Maines was taken into custody for the sale of the stolen rifle. According to the complaint, during an interview, Maines gave information that the stolen Mossberg 500 .20 gauge shotgun was located in the corner of his bedroom at his residence on Calvary Lane in Young Township.
Around 1:00 p.m. on November 15, a search warrant was executed at Maine’s residence. The complaint states that in the course of the search, the following items were recovered in Maine’s bedroom:
– the Mossberg 500 shotgun,
– a Vortex Strike Eagle rifle scope (that had been attached to the Palmetto rifle when it was stolen),
– a glass smoking pipe, and
– a digital scale.
The items were all transported to the Punxsutawney-based State Police barracks and entered into evidence.
Court documents indicate Maines is also scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Gregory M Bazylak at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, on one third-degree misdemeanor count of furnishing drug free urine from an incident on January 17, 2020.
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