Woman accused of hindering boyfriend’s capture

Posted By: VenangoExtra.com April 25, 2018

From staff reports

An Oil City woman is facing charges in connection with two incidents involving drugs and hindering the apprehension of her boyfriend earlier this month.

A criminal complaint filed through district judge Andrew Fish’s office said on April 18, Oil City police executed a search warrant on a vehicle belonging to 36-year-old Misty Unangst.

During the search, police took into custody James Word, 33, of Detroit, who was found to be in possession of 23.55 grams of heroin that was suspected to be fentanyl, the complaint said.

Police further located receipts showing that Unangst and another woman had sent money to Word through wire transfers, in addition to sending him a set of digital scales. Officers also found multiple receipts for bus trips from Detroit to Erie, the complaint said.

Officers located two cell phones on Word, and a search warrant served on one of the devices showed conversations between Unangst and Word regarding the sale and delivery of controlled substances, the complaint said.

Further investigation through conversation and information provided by a confidential informant revealed that Word paid Unangst $600 to stay at her residence for the purposes of selling and distributing controlled substances, the complaint said.

Text message conversations between Unangst and Word also revealed that Unangst had been allowing her boyfriend, 19-year-old Darrell Banks Jr., to stay at her home. Unangst was aware that Banks is wanted on an outstanding felony warrant in connection with her assault on April 7, at their Plummer Street residence, the complaint said.

Unangst had told police she had dropped Banks off in the Titusville area and had taken care of the issue. She confirmed the incident occurred but said she would deny the incident and would not allow her daughter to testify in court, the complaint said.

Officers had observed bruising on Unangst’s wrist, elbow and forehead areas, in addition to a swollen jaw, the complaint said.

Unangst is facing felony counts of conspiracy-criminal use of communication facility, criminal use of communication facility and hindering apprehension.

She was arraigned before Fish and placed in the Venango County jail on $25,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled May 2 in Central Court.

Banks is facing felony counts of aggravated assault and intimidate witness/victim, in addition to a misdemeanor count of simple assault.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Oil City police at (814) 678-3080.