Hearing Waived, Bail Reduced for Alleged Heroin Dealer

A North Wales woman charged with allegedly dealing heroin in downtown Lansdale, and who has admitted to police in the past of being an addict, had her bail reduced to 10 percent of $20,000 at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Anita Lynn Rocchino, 25, of the 200 block of North 10th Street in North Wales, was allegedly spotted under surveillance by Lansdale Police conducting two hand-to-hand heroin deals near East Main Street and North Chestnut Street in September.

When pulled over, Rocchino allegedly had numerous bags of heroin in her bra, according to the affidavit.

The following charges were held over for county arraignment Dec. 5:

Rocchino is charged with the following:

• Felony Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
• Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Misdemeanor Possession With Intent to Use Drug Paraphernalia
• Misdeameanor Receipt in Commerce

Rocchino's original bail was $20,000 unsecured, but only on the condition that she enter rehab, according to District Judge Harold Borek. That did not occur, he said.

Rocchino told Borek that her probation officer submitted an evaluation to go to rehab and she was told she would have to wait a month for a Pre Plea Investigation.

Assistant District Attorney Heather Levandoski had no objection to the reduction in bail to 10 percent of $20,000.

Levandowski said a probation detainer remains lodged against Rocchino. She said Rocchino would get credit for time served with the change in bail.

"If you post bail unsecured, you get no credit for time served," Levandoski said.

According to court records, Rocchino is headed to trial on misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property charges stemming from a March 2012 arrest in Hatfield Township.

In 2010, Rocchino had felony criminal trespassing, theft and disorderly conduct charges withdrawn at a preliminary hearing before District Judge Harold Borek, according to court records.

On July 13, 2012, Lansdale Police were conducting undercover surveillance of suspected drug activity at around 6:30 p.m. near East Main and North Chestnut streets, according to an affidavit.

Police saw a white male, identified as Joshua Maher in the affidavit, standing on the corner of East Main and North Chestnut streets.

Police said Maher took his wallet out of his pocket and removed $20, according to the affidavit.

Maher made a brief call on his cell phone and then sat down in front of 53 E. Main St., according to the affidavit.

Two minutes later, Maher received a call, police said. After the brief call, a white Volkswagen Jetta pulled up and parked on the west side of North Chestnut Street near Maher, according to the affidavit.

Maher walked down the sidewalk and got into the backseat of the Jetta, police said. He exited the Jetta 15 seconds later, according to the affidavit. Maher walked to the rear of 53 E. Main St. and entered the rear door.

The Jetta left, driving past police, according to the affidavit. Police were able to identify the driver as Rocchino, according to the affidavit.

Police tried to follow, but were unable to locate her, according to the affidavit.

Police said they have had prior contacts with Rocchino. 

Rocchino, according to the affidavit, is a self-admitted heroin addict and has been involved in heroin-related incidents in the past.

Lansdale Police said they received information from an informant that Rocchino was allegedly involved in drug deliveries, according to the affidavit.

On September 9, at around 5 p.m., Lansdale Police were conducting surveillance in the same area, and again saw Maher standing on the corner of the same intersection, according to the affidavit.

Rocchino pulled up and Maher walked to the driver's side of the car, police said. Maher allegedly handed Rocchino an unknown amount of cash, according to the affidavit.

Rocchino allegedly handed over an unidentified object, according to the affidavit. Maher put the object in his pants pocket and walked away, according to the affidavit.

Police followed Rocchino and radioed observations to Lansdale Police radio and Upper Gwynedd Police radio, according to the affidavit.

Upper Gwynedd Police Sgt. John Brinkmann and Lansdale Police Officer Justin DiBonaventura conducted a stop on Rocchino's Jetta on Mill Road in Upper Gwynedd, according to the affidavit.

Another Lansdale officer arrived and asked Rocchino if she had narcotics on her person, police said.

She allegedly told police she had heroin in her bra, according to the affidavit.

Rocchino was taken into custody on suspicion of heroin possession, police said.

A female Upper Gwynedd Township Police officer was called in to conduct a search of Rocchino, according to the affidavit.

Police said 13 glassine bags of heroin were found in Rocchino's bra, according to the affidavit. Syringes and a spoon were also found in her vehicle, according to the affidavit.