SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man is facing felony drug charges related to two incidents where he was reportedly caught in possession of methamphetamine and prescription medications.

Court documents indicate the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 21-year-old Juan Felipe Hugus.

According to a criminal complaint, around 2:40 p.m. on Monday, September 21, Lt. Ashbaugh, of the Sugarcreek Borough Police, observed Juan Felipe Hugus, who was wanted on an active arrest warrant, walking down the steps from Pennell Street.

Lt. Ashbaugh, along with Chief Bob Wenner, then made contact with Hugus and took him into custody.

During a search incident to arrest, Hugus was found to be in possession of a glass smoking pipe, a torch, a digital scale, an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine, and 51 Xanax pills that were in a plastic container rather than a prescription bottle, according to the complaint.

The quantity of Xanax, along with the pills not being in a prescription bottle, indicates the pills were for sale and not intended for personal use, the complaint indicates.

The location where the arrest took place was within 1,000 feet of the Rocky Grove Jr./Sr. High School building and property, the complaint notes.

Hugus was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, on the following charges:

– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor

Unable to post $5,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Venango County Jail on this case.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on September 30, with Judge Lowrey presiding.

Second Case Against Hugus Involving Drugs

Court documents indicate Hugus is also scheduled to stand for a second hearing in front of Judge Lowrey scheduled for the same time and date on drug charges from an incident in August.

According to a criminal complaint, around 10:30 p.m. on August 6, Ptlm. Johnson, of the Sugarcreek Borough Police, initiated a traffic stop on a red Ford sedan that was clocked traveling 75 miles per hour in a posted 45 mile per hour zone on Allegheny Boulevard in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County.

The driver, later identified as Juan Hugus, questioned why he was stopped and didn’t believe the officer had timed him. He reportedly said: “I will see you in court,” and also accused the officer of profiling, the complaint states.

Hugus was asked for his license, registration, and insurance information and began to look for the items. The officer then noticed an odor of green marijuana coming from the vehicle, the complaint notes.

While searching, Hugus moved a bag on the passenger side floor of the vehicle, and the top part of the bag opened further. The officer noticed the odor of marijuana then got stronger and also saw several sandwich bags that were each missing a small corner, and one bag that appeared to have a small, dark knot inside of it, according to the complaint.

During the interactions, Hugus was speaking very rapidly, moving around in an exaggerated manner, and seemed unable to sit still. He also allegedly became more animated and anxious as the interaction went on, the complaint indicates.

Hugus was then asked to undergo standardized field sobriety testing. The complaint notes when the officer broached the topic, Hugus looked at his bag before responding.

Hugus did not show indicators of impairment during the tests. He was then advised he was not being placed under arrest for suspicion, but that police were going to conduct a “driver’s wingspan search” to further investigate the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to the complaint.

Nothing was found in the driver’s door, seat, cover console, or glove box. However, at the top of the open leather book bag on the passenger side floor, police observed a skull stamp bag with an unknown substance inside of it. When the bag was moved to identify the substance, it was found to be sitting in a plastic container that also held a clear ziplock bag of a substance that appeared to be methamphetamine. When that bag was moved, the odor of marijuana grew stronger. There also appeared to be money in the bag, which was then secured as evidence, the complaint states.

Hugus was then placed under arrest.

A later search of the bag found a small amount of marijuana, as well as one bag of methamphetamine, weighed at 3.2 grams, a second bag of methamphetamine weighed at 2.5 grams, an empty bag with an unknown oil type haze and a strong odor of marijuana, a small ziplock bag of four partial Xanax pills, one Clonazepam pill, and three corner baggie “twists” with residue, as well as $194.69 in cash, the complaint indicates.

Hugus was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey at 2:45 p.m. on Monday, September 21, on the following charges:

– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Possession of Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor (five counts)
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– Deliver/Intent to Deliver Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor

His bail was set at $5,000.00 monetary bail for this case.