Lock Haven woman convicted of delivering bath salts
LOCK HAVEN, PA – A Clinton County jury on Thursday found Megan Cristine Rinehart, 35, guilty on all counts, including delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.
The charges stemmed from a controlled buy conducted by the Clinton County Drug Task Force on September 24, 2021 during which the defendant sold 0.5 grams of eutylone (otherwise known as “bath salts”) to a confidential informant for $50.
At the trial, Chief David Winkleman and Officer Stephen Brion of the Pine Creek Township Police Department testified concerning the drug sale that happened at the Henderson Street Laundromat on East Main Street in Lock Haven.
Rinehart took the stand in her own defense and admitted to having arranged to meet with the confidential informant on the date in question, but attempted to explain that she was merely meeting the individual to collect money that the informant owed her boyfriend for power tools he had sold to the informant through Facebook.
The Commonwealth was represented by First Assistant District Attorney Thom Rosamilia, who argued that the evidence against the defendant overwhelmingly established that she had provided the “bath salts” to the confidential informant and that her story about the power tools was a fabrication. Rinehart was represented by defense attorney Marc Decker.
The jury returned a verdict within an hour of beginning deliberations and found Rinehart guilty of all charges. Sentencing in the matter is scheduled for September 26 when Rinehart faces a maximum penalty of up to 12 years of incarceration.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/lock-haven-woman-convicted-delivering-bath-salts
