Three jailed on drug, weapons charges
Two men and a woman face numerous felony weapons and drug charges, according police.
MARLBOROUGH, N.Y. » Two men and a woman face numerous felony weapons and drug charges after the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team found cocaine and heroin, along with numerous firearms, at a Prospect Street residence, according to the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said they executed a search warrant at the home at 5 a.m. on July 28 in response to an investigation into drugs sales in the area and found powder and crack cocaine, heroin, digital scales and drug-packing materials. A loaded AR-15 assault rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, two .22-caliber rifles and four high-capacity magazines were also discovered during the search, they added.
Three people inside the residence — Joseph G. Montalbano, 20, Shane C. Lewis, 46, and Denise O. Stephens, 42, were arrested, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Montalbano was charged with the felonies of criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of weapon, criminal nuisance and conspiracy, and the misdemeanors of criminal use of drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of marijuana, authorities said. Montalbano may also face violations with the Ulster County Department of Probation, they added.
Lewis was charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal nuisance and conspiracy, authorities said. Lewis was also charged with the misdemeanors of criminal use of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of marijuana.
Stephens was charged with the felonies of criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal nuisance and conspiracy, authorities said. She was also charged with the misdemeanors of criminal use of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of marijuana, they said.
Montalbano, Stephens and Lewis were all arraigned in town of Esopus Town Court and were sent to the Ulster County Jail. Montalbano is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail, Stephens is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and Lewis is being held without bail. They are scheduled to appear in town of Marlborough Court at a later date.