Texas man hiding in attic sentenced to 12 years in prison on drug charges
A Texas man arrested on multiple felony drug counts after he was found hiding in the attic of a local man’s residence earlier this year was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges.
Stephen Christopher Spadaro, 33, who lists a San Antonio, Texas, address, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced to 12 years and to possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, and was sentenced to 10 years, with the sentences to run concurrently.
An additional felony count of possession of a controlled substance, meth, was withdrawn and Spadaro was ordered to pay $295 in court costs upon his release. A misdemeanor count of criminal trespass was adjudicated by time served.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Jan. 22, shortly after
9:30 p.m., Hot Springs police officers responded to a Spring Street residence in reference to a criminal trespass report and found Spadaro hiding in an attic space.
Cpl. Allen Constant reportedly climbed into the attic area and discovered narcotics, medications and a digital scale within one foot of where Spadaro was found. The narcotics were found free from dust and debris and were concealed in a black bag.
The narcotics included two clear plastic baggies both containing what later tested positive for meth, one containing 3.2 grams and one with 0.6 gram. Also found were seven pill bottles containing amphetamine, hydrocodone, Xanax and various sedatives.
Spadaro, who claimed to be homeless at the time of his arrest, was initially held on $18,250 bond, but after pleading not guilty on April 3, his bond was reduced to $5,000 and he was released on June 25.
Spadaro was on probation at the time of his arrest out of Washington County, also stemming from felony drug charges, and that probation was reportedly revoked and he was sentenced to six years in prison on those charges to run concurrently with his sentence out of Garland County.