Pottstown man admits to dealing drugs in town

A Pottstown man will be under court supervision for 6 years after he admitted to illegal drug activity.

NORRISTOWN » A Pottstown man will be under court supervision for six years after he admitted to illegal drug activity in the borough.

Jonathan Curtis Simms, 28, formerly of the 900 block of North Hanover Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 23 months in the county’s intermediate punishment program, the first 12 months to be spent under house arrest, and the remainder of the 23-month period under intensive probation.

That means Simms, who pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, can leave his home only for court-approved purposes.

Judge Thomas C. Branca also ordered Simms to complete an additional four years of probation following the intermediate punishment period, meaning Simms will be under court supervision for about six years.

Branca said Simms must follow all recommendations for treatment after he undergoes a drug and alcohol evaluation. Simms also will be subject to random urine testing, the judge said.

Branca sternly warned Simms that if he violates the sentence in any way, Simms will be going to state prison. Simms, who was represented by defense lawyer Adam Sager, told the judge he understood the ramifications of violating the sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Heather Hines had sought jail time against Simms, who most recently resided in the 100 block of South Charlotte Street.

An investigation began about 10:48 p.m. Dec. 9, 2016, when Pottstown police responded to Simms’ North Hanover Street residence for a report of a home invasion. As police entered the residence they “detected the overwhelming odor of raw marijuana” permeating the air inside the residence, according to the criminal complaint filed by Pottstown Police Officer Andrew Licwinko.

While conducting a security check of the residence police observed nine clear bags containing suspected marijuana stored inside a diaper bag in the residence. Police subsequently obtained a warrant to search the home.

During the search, police recovered 1.95 pounds of marijuana, a scale with suspected marijuana residue, two ledgers and a marijuana grinder, according to the criminal complaint.

The substance that was recovered was sent to a lab for testing and those tests confirmed it was marijuana, court documents indicate.