By Jaime North
The Danville News
Sun, May 18 2008
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DANVILLE -- A Danville man and woman were arrested late Tuesday night for allegedly dealing heroin to a confidential informant, including one drug purchase made across from Danville Middle School while school was in session.
Shawn Ashton, 21, of 73 Beaver Place, and Jennifer Hunt, 36, of 308 E. Mahoning St., were arraigned on charges of criminal use of a communication facility, two counts of criminal conspiracy, and four counts of manufacturing a controlled substance, according to affidavits filed through District Judge Marvin Shrawder's office.
Hunt was also charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin and delivery of a controlled substance relating to an arraigned purchase with a confidential informant on Feb. 26, when she allegedly sold $225 worth of heroin, according to Danville police. Hunt and the informant drove to a house in Bloomsburg to obtain the heroin before finalizing the drug transaction at her East Mahoning Street home, police said.
On Tuesday, the informant arraigned a drug purchase with Hunt and Ashton just before 1 p.m. in front of a business near Danville Middle School. The informant met Hunt at her home, then walked together to meet Ashton near his home, police said.
Ashton gave the informant two bags of heroin for $50, according to police.
Five hours later, the informant returned to Hunt's home for more heroin. According to police, Hunt had to call Ashton to make the transaction complete, placing at least four phone calls to him. The informant eventually bought a bag of heroin for $50, which included $25 for a previous drug debt, police said.
"This was a Montour County law enforcement effort," Danville Police Chief Eric Gill said. "We got extensive help from the county sheriff's office, Mahoning Township police and the conglomerates of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force. Those are the people who deserve a lot of recognition. They went to bat for us and helped us clear this up."
Gill said tips from neighbors also played a big part in the bust.
"People in the community are not going to tolerate this kind of stuff," Gill said. "When we get a neighbor's complaint, we're certainly going to act on it. This was a result of a lot of neighbors from the surrounding area being vigilant and observing what goes on, then notifying the proper authorities."
Ashton and Hunt, who were both placed in Montour County Jail in lieu of $100,000 straight bail, face preliminary hearings next week.
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