Pa. attorney general lists drug charges against 14 from Somerset, Cambria counties

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Oct. 31 that 14 people from Somerset and Cambria counties have been charged with offenses including drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession.

Sunday’s office said the charges came after an extensive investigation in conjunction with the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement partners.

Law enforcement seized significant quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and other controlled substances and illegal firearms in the investigation, which took place this year, mainly in Somerset County, and included surveillance, controlled buys and search warrants, according to Sunday’s announcement.

The attorney general’s office also said two significant seizures occurred in Cambria County, with assistance from the Cambria County Drug Task Force and municipal police.

In addition to the attorney general’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, the district attorney’s office and the state police, police departments from Berlin Borough, Boswell Borough, Somerset Borough, Conemaugh Township, Rockwood Borough, Summit Township, Windber Borough and Richland Township assisted in the investigation, as well as the Somerset County Sherriff’s Office.

Sunday said all but one of the individuals charged has been taken into custody. Dyane Hickman-Mason has also been charged but was not in custody as of Oct. 31. Her place of residence was not immediately available, but Sunday’s announcement said she had previously lived in Ohio.

The other 13 individuals charged were identified in online court documents as Charles Pierce, 46, of Somerset; Meredith Blake, 45, of Somerset; Charlene Morris, 45, of Claysburg, Blair County; Amber Troutman, 36, of Somerset; Jeremy Barron, 48, of Somerset; Amanda Barclay, 46, of Somerset; David McCormick, 37, of Confluence and Ebensburg; Charles Meinhart Jr., 62, of Somerset; Adam Scarlett, 36, of Somerset; Tabatha Hornbaker, 34, of Somerset; Pamela Harold, 54, of Johnstown; Courtney Romesburg, 27, of Johnstown; and Shari Saler, 60, of Windber.

“Every community has unique circumstances, but there is a common thread law enforcement finds throughout the commonwealth ― drug dealers value dollars over human lives, and carry firearms to protect their lucrative trades,” Sunday said.

“I commend District Attorney Metzgar and the other partners who are focused on removing fentanyl and other poisons from neighborhoods and holding accountable predatory dealers.”

Metzgar thanked the attorney general’s office for its help in the investigation.

“I appreciate being able to work with Attorney General Dave Sunday and his office, and am thankful for all the support and resources that he has provided to our county to ensure that this major round-up could be accomplished. Special commendations to agent (Adam) Thimons (criminal investigator) for his tireless dedication to Somerset County in organizing these investigations.”