By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer
Two people are facing felony drug charges following a search of a residence Friday on Oil City’s South Side.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Andrew Fish’s office said Oil City police chief Bob Wenner, patrolmen Robert Culp and Cory Ruditis, and agent Karen See of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole arrived at the home in the 100 block of West Sixth Street shortly before 1:30 p.m.
At first, police were unable to make contact with anyone, but See heard yelling from inside the home, the complaint said.
After receiving permission to enter the residence from a supervisor, See encountered 21-year-old Mary Lou Sneltzer, the girlfriend of Stacy Dunkle, 32, the complaint said.
Once secure with Sneltzer, See began a search of the home for any firearms or paraphernalia that would be a violation of Dunkle’s probation and parole, the complaint said.
Police discovered large, clear plastic bags containing suspected marijuana, in addition to glass pipes, plastic bags and digital scales, the complaint said.
A subsequent search warrant was served on the residence and revealed a large bag of suspected marijuana, multiple small bags with suspected marijuana, glass pipes, plastic straws containing residue and a bag containing suspected methamphetamine, the complaint said.
In addition, officers found a fully loaded handgun in a room adjoining the basement area, the complaint said.
A search warrant was then served on a black Mercury Mountaineer vehicle parked next to the residence, which See said belonged to Dunkle, the complaint said.
A black and silver carbine rifle with miscellaneous ammunition for other firearms was located in the vehicle, the complaint said.
Also in the vehicle were receipts for payments of fines to the district judge from Dunkle and a traffic citation for Sneltzer, the complaint said.
Both Dunkle and Sneltzer have been charged with felony counts of conspiracy – manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, and manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; and misdemeanor counts of intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.
Dunkle is also facing two felony counts of possession of a prohibited firearm.
Dunkle and Sneltzer were arraigned Friday and placed in the Venango County jail.
Dunkle’s bail has been set at $150,000, and Sneltzer’s bail is $50,000.
Preliminary hearings in the case have been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Central Court.
