Berks woman admits to Pottstown drug activity

A Douglass (Berks) Township woman potentially faces prison time after she admitted to engaging in illegal drug activity at a residence in Pottstown.

Jessica Acree, 32, of the first block of Bachman Lane, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, providing false identification to law enforcement authorities and a conspiracy charge in connection with an October 2015 incident in Pottstown.

Judge Thomas P. Rogers deferred sentencing so that Acree can be evaluated for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ intermediate punishment program, which is designed for offenders convicted of drug-related offenses or those whose crimes are motivated by a substance abuse addiction.

Those approved for the program serve a combination of prison time, proba- tion and inpatient and outpatient treatment.

The judge remanded Acree to the county jail without bail to await sentencing.

Acree potentially faces several years in prison on the charges.

Acree was arrested by borough police in connection with an investigation of drug activity being conducted from a home in the first block of West Fifth Street. According to a criminal complaint, borough police received information from confidential sources and numerous complaints from concerned residents about the alleged drug activity at the residence.

“The neighbors complained about foot and vehicle traffic that come to this residence and stay for a short period of time.

“Based on my training and experience, I know this to be consistent with drug trafficking,” Pottstown Police Officer Andrew Licwinko alleged in the arrest affidavit.

When police were called to the home to investigate alleged drug activity onOct. 2, 2015, they found four peo- ple there, including Acree, who initially gave police a false name.

When police determined Acree’s true identity they took her into custody for an outstanding bench warrant, according to the criminal complaint.

The person who leased the residence gave police permission to search the residence and told police that Acree did not live there, according to court documents.

When police searched the residence they found prepackaged bundles of heroin, small amounts of marijuana, drug packaging materials and used drug paraphernalia, according to the criminal complaint.

Some of the bags of heroin were stamped “Red Light,” according to the criminal complaint.

Witnesses told police that those who frequented the residence would use a side door to sell heroin to customers, according to the criminal complaint.

Several others also were charged in connection with the drug activity, according to court records.