Wanted Lower Gwynedd Man Charged With Drug Felonies

A 20-year-old Lower Gwynedd man wanted by Philadelphia Police for felony drug charges has been arrested and charged by for additional felony drug violations.

In a hotel room where the man - John Cassidy, of the 1300 block of Emerson Court - was staying, they found another man, identified as William Gates of Lincolnton, NC, police said.

Also taking residence in that hotel room were marijuana, hash, drug paraphernalia and $11,400 in cash, police said.

Cassidy and Gates are each charged with felony manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; consipracy to manufacture, deliver or possess a controlled substance with intent to deliver; two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance by an unregistered person and five misdemeanor counts of use and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

Cassidy has 13 cases filed in Montgomery County district courts of a mix of criminal, traffic and non-traffic cases since April 2008.

The latest crimnal case was in April 2010. According to court records, Cassidy was arrested and charged by Cheltenham Township Police for manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; corruption of minors; use or possession of drug paraphernalia and smelling or inhaling toxic substances.

In December 2010, all charges except for inhaling toxic substances were withdrawn at a preliminary hearing before District Judge Christopher Cerski, according to court records.

The Philadelphia Municipal Court case stems from a December 2011 arrest, in which Cassidy was charged with manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession of a controlled substance by an unregistered person; use or possession of drug paraphernalia and smelling or inhaling toxic substances, according to court records.

A trial was scheduled for June 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. in Philadelphia, according to court records.

On June 5, a Montgomery Township officer was on routine patrol and located a vehicle parked in a lot on the 600 block of Bethlehem Pike, Montgomery Township.

A check of the vehicle registration revealed that the owner, identified as Cassidy, was wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, police said.

Further investigation revealed that Cassidy was registered as a guest at a local hotel, police said.

Officers located Cassidy's hotel room and entered it, police said.

Inside, they found Gates, police said.

Also found in the room were marijuana, hash, drug paraphernalia and $11,400 in cash, police said.

Both suspects were arraigned by District Judge Leo in Hatboro. Both were committed to Montgomery County Prison in lieu of bail. Bail was set for each at $25,000 cash.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 15 at 10 a.m. before District Judge Andrea Duffy of Montgomeryville.