Upper Chi mom and son charged with dealing heroin
UPPER CHICHESTER >> A mother and son were charged with possession with the intent to deliver and related drug offenses following an investigation by township police officers assigned to the Delaware County Drug Task Force.
Michelle Stamm, 49, and Matthew Stamm, 28, of the 1500 block Meetinghouse Road, were arrested Feb. 9 after officers John Montgomery and Matthew Jackson executed a search warrant for heroin sales at their apartment and recovered 41 bags of heroin, as well as morphine pills and marijuana, according to charging documents. Police began the investigation after receiving multiple complaints.
The mother remains incarcerated at the county prison after failing to post bail, which was set at 10 percent of $25,000 bail. While her son on Feb. 27 posted his bail, which was also set at 10 percent of $25,000, he, too, remained incarcerated at the county prison as of Monday night, according to online records.
When the officers arrived at the Stamms’ apartment with the search warrant earlier this month, Michelle and Matthew Stamm were in the kitchen, along with another woman. The officers saw eight blue glassine bags containing powder on the kitchen table, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Matthew Stamm and the unidentified woman were immediately secured.
“Michelle Stamm quickly left the kitchen while officers were entering and went to her bedroom,” the affidavit states. In the bedroom, a police officer saw her “throwing items towards a bureau.” She, too, was secured.
After mother and son were advised of their Miranda rights, Matthew Stamm reportedly told officers that he had bags of heroin hidden in the underwear he was wearing. A search of his clothing revealed 14 additional bags of heroin, the affidavit states.
As a result of the search of the apartment, investigators recovered an additional 19 blue glassine bags containing powder and multiple suspected morphine pills from Michelle Stamm’s bedroom, the affidavit states. Marijuana and various drug paraphernalia including two metal grinders and several glass smoking pipes with residue were found in Matthew Stamm’s bedroom, according to the affidavit. Cash totaling about $400 was also confiscated as a result of the investigation.
Both Michelle and Matthew Stamm were transported to police headquarters. During an interview, Michelle Stamm told investigators that she was a heroin user and that she and her son sold heroin “for extra money to get by,” the affidavit states.
Michelle Stamm said heroin had been dropped off at the residence by a dealer, the affidavit states. She also indicated that the pills found in her bedroom were morphine and were not prescribed by a physician, the affidavit states.
“Michelle stated that she ingests the pills in order to combat her heroin usage,” the affidavit states.
During his interview with investigators, Matthew Stamm said he began to sell heroin in November “to help out his mother and to make money,” the affidavit states.
Matthew Stamm, who told investigators that he does not use heroin, said that five “bundles” of heroin were dropped off at the apartment “whenever he needed it,” the affidavit states.
Both Michelle and Matthew Stamm are listed to appear for a preliminary hearing on March 9 before Magisterial District Judge Nicholas S. Lippincott, whose court in Upper Providence is deemed the county’s drug court. In addition to possession with the intent to deliver, both defendants are charged with drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and conspiracy.
Officer Michael Molineux assisted during the search of the apartment.