Ex-Hatfield man admits peddling crystal meth

Aformer Hatfield man potentially faces jail time nowthat he’s admitted to peddling crystal meth.

Valerio Reale, 47, formerly of the 100 block of Colmar Avenue, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court this week to felony charges of possession with intent to deliver crystal methamphetamine and conspiracy in connection with incidents that occurred in August 2014. Judge Gary S. Silow deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Reale, who most recently resided in the 100 block of Hendricks Street in Ambler.

Reale, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, faces the possibility of several years in prison on the charges.

With the charges, Hatfield police alleged a search warrant executed at Reale’s residence on Aug. 15, 2014, turned up 12 bags containing crystal methamphetamine — a total of 4.3 grams of the drug were recovered — in a basement bathroom, and that investigators also found assorted identification cards near the drugs belonging to Reale and James Francis Guckavan, 49, who also resided at the home along with his sister, who was Reale’s girlfriend.

Court documents alleged packaging materials including a cutting board with drug residue, glassine bags, twist ties and a digital scale also were discovered near the meth.

“These items were clearly being used to weigh and package the crystal methamphetamine for sale,” Hatfield Detective Sgt. John A. Ciarlello alleged in the arrest affidavit.

Reale, when initially interviewed by detectives, claimed he was just a user of the crystal meth in the basement and that the drugs belonged to Guckavan, according to the arrest affidavit.