A Shenandoah man sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant in October 2015 in his hometown, a Schuylkill County jury decided Tuesday.
After deliberating about 30 minutes, the jury found Marc Benjamin Jr., 28, guilty of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge James P. Goodman, who presided over Benjamin’s one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation but did not immediately schedule the defendant’s sentencing. Goodman allowed Benjamin, who did not testify or offer any other evidence at the trial, to remain free on $50,000 unsecured bail pending sentencing.
Shenandoah police charged Benjamin with selling $20 worth of methamphetamine about 9 p.m. Oct. 5, 2015, on the sidewalk in front of the Burger King restaurant, 331 S. Main St., in the borough.
“(Benjamin) met up with the (confidential) informant,” borough Police Chief George F. Carado Jr., the prosecuting officer, testified. “They had a hand-to-hand exchange.”
Carado said he had searched the informant “head to toe” before sending him to the controlled buy.
“Did you find anything on the CI?” Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith asked Carado.
“No,” he answered.
Carado said he gave the informant $50 and never lost sight of him during the buy.
“Was there anything obstructing your view?” Smith asked him.
“No,” Carado answered.
He also testified the buy occurred after an exchange of text messages between Benjamin and the informant.
State police Trooper Shawn P. Tray, a former West Mahanoy Township police chief, testified he also saw Benjamin walk toward Burger King and have contact with the informant, who had no contact with anyone else.
“You could see them making contact,” Tray said about Benjamin and the informant when cross-examined by Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Benjamin’s lawyer.
An undercover state police trooper also testified he watched Benjamin pass something to the informant.
“The transaction went pretty quick,” he said.
Forensic scientist Courtney Sinkuler of the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg, the only other witness, said she tested the substance Carado brought to the laboratory.
“The substance ... is methamphetamine,” she testified.
The defendant
· Defendant: Marc Benjamin Jr.
· Age: 28
· Residence: Shenandoah
· Crimes committed: Delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia