Police: Woman Dropped Heroin in Court Lobby

Kristen Stephen, 29, of the 200 block of Hickory Court, Towamencin — who is headed to trial at Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas on prostitution and drug charges in Lansdale — allegedly dropped three small bags of heroin inside the lobby of Lansdale district court in July, as she was signing paperwork related to a hearing she had that day on those prostitution and drug charges, police said.

Stephen also holds an address of the 1500 block of Fort Washington Avenue, Upper Dublin.

Stephen was charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and use and possession of drug paraphernlia by Lansdale Police in October, for the offenses allegedly committed on July 26 at 11:42 a.m.

At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, the use and possession charge was withdrawn, and the possession of a controlled substance charge was upheld. Stephen was represented by attorney Martin Mullaney.

Stephen heads to county arraignment on Jan. 2, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

Bail on this offense was set at $5,000 unsecured. However, Stephen remains incarcerated on additional criminal offenses in Towamencin on $5,000 cash bail, with the condition that she be admitted to an inpatient rehab facility upon posting bail.

According to the criminal affidavit, Lansdale Police Investigator Chad Bruckner was in the district court lobby, where Stephen was completing paperwork at the court counter, when he saw three small glassine wax bags of suspected heroin on the floor.

The bags were labeled "Hot Boy," police said.

Bruckner questioned Stephen, a self-admitted addict, and Stephen allegedly denied possessing or dropping heroin, according to the affidavit.

Stephen used the court bathroom several times during her 30-minute stay, according to the affidavit.

Bruckner inspected the bathroom after Stephen left district court, and found the restroom to be clean and orderly, according to the affidavit.

On the floor, next to the toilet, Bruckner found a Bic-brand pen tube, according to the affidavit. The pen tube, police said, is used by heroin addicts to inhale the drug through the nose. The tube, according to the affidavit, had residue consistent with heroin.

Bruckner called Stephen later in the day and asked her again about the heroin, according to the affidavit.

Stephen allegedly admitted it was her heroin and could not admit it was hers at court because her parents were there, according to the affidavit.

The evidence was sent for testing, which tested positive for .15 grams of heroin, according to the affidavit.