Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Jail Time

| February 2, 2018

FRANKLIN, Pa. – A Franklin man with a lengthy criminal record was sentenced on Tuesday to serve time in the Venango County Jail.

According to court documents, Judge Oliver Lobaugh ordered 41-year-old Wesley Steven Watson, of Franklin, a jail term of nine months to 23 months and 29 days.

Watson pleaded guilty to a felony count of drug possession with the intent to deliver.

Watson was also authorized for work release/job search, subject to the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of the work release program, not to exceed six days per week. Employment is not to interfere with counseling sessions ordered by the Adult Probation Department.

Watson will also be on probation for one year following his jail time.

Franklin City Police arrested Watson on July 26, 2017, following an undercover drug sting at the U.S. Post Office in Franklin.

Franklin Police Patrolman Wheeling worked with the state Attorney General’s Office, members of the Region 7 Drug Task Force, and the United States Postal service.

A criminal complaint filed by Patrolman Wheeling indicates he was notified by a United States Postal Service inspector that the Franklin Post Office had received a package of suspected marijuana addressed to Watson.

Because the package was too large to fit in his mailbox, a note was left for Watson to pick it up at the post office. Watson arrived at the post office and was given the package.

As Watson attempted to leave the post office, he was stopped by the authorities in the front lobby area.

Watson confirmed that the package was his and it contained marijuana. He then gave the police consent to open the package.

According to the criminal complaint, the package was opened by the postal inspector while Patrolman Wheeling observed. The package contained more than 30 grams of marijuana.

Watson told authorities that “once he had the package of marijuana in his possession, he was directed to contact others for the purpose of dispensing or distributing the marijuana,” the complaint states.

Dating back to 2001, Watson has pleaded guilty to drug possession charges three times.


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