Charleroi man charged for possession of 200 grams of marijuana
A Charleroi man has been charged with multiple drug offenses as he was allegedly found with a large amount of marijuana along with drug paraphernalia.
Joseph Dale Axton, 39, of 714 Lookout Avenue was charged with drug possession with intent, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia by Monessen Police on Saturday.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Axton was travelling in a vehicle on the Charleroi-Monessen Bridge at 1:17 a.m. Saturday while a Monessen Police officer was travelling behind him.
The officer checked the vehicle registration and found it was expired.
Police then conducted a traffic stop after turning off the bridge into North Charleroi Borough and spoke with Axton, who said his license was suspended as he handed over his registration and insurance cards.
After the citations were issued to Axton, police said he seemed unusually nervous and anxious to end the encounter, which prompted police to instruct Axton and his passenger to exit the vehicle. Inside, police said they saw a bulging bookbag.
When asked about the bookbag, Axton told police it belonged to him and that it contained “a couple ounces of marijuana,” according to court paperwork.
Inside the bookbag, police found approximately 200 grams of marijuana inside a plastic container along with a digital scale, a large pill bottle containing five unlit marijuana cigarettes and numerous plastic sandwich baggies, all of which led police to believe Axton was engaging in drug sales. Police said he was also found with $680, primarily consisting of $20 bills.
Axton is lodged in the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond with a preliminary hearing scheduled at 10 a.m. March 16 before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Dalfonso.