MOUNT CARMEL - One of the three people charged with multiple drug offenses in connection with a Feb. 4 incident at Glosser Motor Inn in Paxinos waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday while the other two defendants had their legal proceedings continued because of a conflict with attorneys.
Justice Devlin Hoffman, 18, of Slatington, was ordered to appear for plea court March 25 at Northumberland County Courthouse after waiving his right to a hearing before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones. Hoffman, who was represented by Northumberland County Public Defender Paige Rosini, can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty at his next court appearance.
The defendant, who remains incarcerated at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, is charged by Ralpho Township Patrolman Christopher Grow with felonies of possession with intent to deliver 71 bags of heroin, possession with intent to deliver eight grams of cocaine and criminal conspiracy, and misdemeanors of possession of eight grams of cocaine, 71 bags of heroin, approximately one gram of Ecstasy and a small amount of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Two co-defendants, Allen Mikael Varilek, 21, of Slatington, and his girlfriend, Jordan Paige Detalente, 18, of Bloomsburg, had their hearings continued until Feb. 27 due to a conflict with Rosini representing Hoffman.
Varilek is charged by Grow with the same offenses as Hoffman, while Detalente faces two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, four counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Varilek and Hoffman also remain incarcerated at the county jail.
According to a criminal complaint, Grow, while on routine patrol at 12:36 a.m. in the parking lot at Glosser Motor Inn along Route 487, observed a tan 2005 Mercury Montego, which was allegedly stolen from 2620 Grove St., Washington Township, Lehigh County, on Feb. 2 by Varilek and Hoffman.
Trooper Arthur Johnson of Bethlehem State Police barracks said the two men were suspected of stealing cash, coins, jewelry, a .22-caliber handgun and several other items, and then taking the victim's car.
Hoffman and Varilek face charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief in Lehigh County.
Grow reported the owner of the motel confirmed that Varilek rented room 112, and the man with him matched Hoffman's description.
After Grow called for assistance, police took Varilek, Hoffman and Detalente into custody without incident.
A search warrant was obtained for the room, where the three defendants were found. Police said they confiscated 71 blue bags of suspected heroin, four grams of suspected marijuana, approximately eight grams of suspected cocaine, approximately a gram of suspected Ecstasy, needles, $2,072 in currency, four cell phones, a leather belt used for a tourniquet and more suspected heroin on two spoons and a soda can for cooking and numerous empty bags used for heroin.
