Slatington student charged with selling, possessing drugs on school property

A 19-year-old Slatington man who was the target of an undercover investigation has been charged with selling marijuana and with having $500 worth of marijuana in his car, which was on Northern Lehigh High School property in Slatington, Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin announced Wednesday

Christopher Estevez, of 6019 Bottom Road, Slatington, who was a student at the high school, was charged on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, with felonies of delivery of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. He also was charged with possession of controlled substances, possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communication facility.

On Monday, Dec. 14 Estevez was taken into custody without incident at the high school by detectives of the District Attorney's Drug Task Force and Slatington Police, said Joseph P. Stauffer, chief detective of the Task Force.

Estevez was arraigned by District Judge Rod Beck of Slatington and was committed to Lehigh County Prison under $20,000 bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 22.

While conducting an investigation into drug activity in the borough, police learned that Estevez allegedly was selling marijuana, Stauffer said. During an undercover operation, Estevez was called, and arrangements were made for him to deliver marijuana on Dec. 11,according to Stauffer.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on that date, Estevez went to the 100 block of Main Street in the borough and delivered a clear plastic bag with $60 worth of suspected marijuana, Stauffer said.

On Dec. 14 police charged Estevez and searched his vehicle, which was on school property at 1 Bull Dog Lane. Investigators found six clear bags of suspected marijuana worth $500, empty plastic bags and a digital scale, Stauffer said.

"We would not characterize him as a major drug dealer," Stauffer said. "However, we initiated this investigation and believe it was important because we learned that his customers may have been high school students and that he may have been taking advantage of his position as a student to make it convenient for others to buy marijuana."

As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, Christopher Estevez, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.