State prison for man with meth

Joseph Sweitzer was in possession of methamphetamine, prescription drugs

WEST CHESTER >> A Lancaster County man who had methamphetamine and prescription drugs with him when the car he was riding in was stopped by township police in West Nottingham has been sentenced to state prison.

On Tuesday, Common Pleas Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft ordered Joseph David Sweitzer to serve three to seven years in prison and to undergo an evaluation for drug and alcohol problems. Sweitzer had been in Chester County Prison awaiting sentencing since a jury found him guilty of drug offenses on Nov. 11, 2016.

At issue was whether all the drugs that Officer Brian Bolt of the West Nottingham police department found in the car Sweitzer was in were his. The jury determined that the proximity of the drugs to where he was proved his possession.

Wheatcraft sentenced the 44-year-old Quarryville resident to 30 to 60 months on the charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and another six to 24 months on the charge of simple possession. She did not impose a penalty on

the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The case against Sweitzer began on March 28, 2015, when Bolt was on routine patrol about 10:30 p.m. in the area of West Christine and Union Square roads. According to the criminal complaint he filed, Bolt spotted a maroon Dodge minivan traveling in the area, but when he checked the registration the plates came back to a Toyota. Bolt stopped the car.

While he was checking the driver’s registration, Bolt saw Sweitzer lying across the back seat of the mini van. He asked for identification, and Sweitzer told him there was a warrant for his arrest in Lancaster County. Bolt took him into custody.

While he was searching Sweitzer, Bolt came across a digital scale and a package of cigarettes, into which a jar of smokeless tobacco

was stuffed. Opening the jar, Bolt found packets of methamphetamine. He also took $500 from Sweitzer and put it in evidence before turning Sweitzer over to Lancaster County authorities.

Bolt got a hold of the owner of the Dodge minivan and got permission to search the car. When he did, he found a black organizer bag on the floor between the front seats near where Bolt had been lying. Inside he found drug paraphernalia, and then found another smokeless tobacco jar, inside of which were four Oxycontin pills and six Alprazolam pills, as well as several plastic bags.

Sweitzer was charged on April 10.

Assistant District Attorney Michelle Barone of the DA’s Drug Unit led the prosecution. Sweitzer was represented at sentencing by Assistant Public Defender Susanna DeWese.