A Berks County man might be headed to state prison after a Schuylkill County jury convicted him Wednesday of possessing salable quantities of four drugs, a smaller amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in August 2010 in West Brunswick Township.
Stephen Smith, 41, of Strausstown, did not react as the jury of seven men and five women found him guilty of four counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and one each of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge Charles M. Miller, who presided over the two-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled Smith's sentencing for 10 a.m. Dec. 7.
Smith remains in prison in lieu of $35,000 percentage cash bail pending sentencing.
"We're pleased with the verdict," Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Campion Jr. said after the jury handed down its decision following more than two hours of deliberations.
The amount of drugs seized from Smith was large for Schuylkill County, Campion said.
State police at Reading had charged Smith with possessing cocaine, oxycodone, Vicodin, Xanax, marijuana and drug paraphernalia on Aug. 1, 2010, at 38 Rocky Road.
Brendan R. McCann, a forensic scientist at the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, testified that Smith possessed 32.2 grams of cocaine in three separate packets and 6.33 grams of oxycodone.
He also said he tested still another packet three times to make certain of its contents.
"It passed all three tests, confirming it as marijuana," he testified.
Campion said the street value of the cocaine that Smith possessed was more than $3,000.
Assistant Public Defender Christopher W. Hobbs, Smith's lawyer, declined to comment on the case after the verdict. Defendant: Stephen Smith
Age: 41
Residence: Strausstown
Crimes committed: Four counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and one each of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia
