Monessen man arraigned in connection with 2014 drug raid
MONESSEN – A Monessen man was arraigned Tuesday on accusations he possessed steroids, illegal prescriptions, heroin and cocaine. The charges stem from a 2014 drug raid on his residence.
District Judge Joseph Dalfonso released Joshua Paul Vanhooser, 34, on $50,000 unsecured bond after state police filed charges that also include illegal possession of a firearm as a convict in a drug case, court records show.
State police executed a search warrant signed by Westmoreland County Judge Debra Pezze at Vanhooser’s residence at 1004 Second St. at 8:15 a.m. Nov. 21, 2014, the affidavit indicated.
Police said investigators seized pill bottles labeled with the names of people who did not live with Vanhooser. They also reported seizing marijuana, a digital scale, syringes and other items associated with drug dealing.
The affidavit did not reveal the amounts of heroin and cocaine that were found in the residence.
Also pulled from the home was a Smith & Wesson .380-caliber handgun that had been reported stolen to Rostraver Township police in August 2014 by William Riggin Jr., the record stated.
Vanhooser was sentenced in November 2009 in Westmoreland County Court to 103 days to 23 months in jail stemming from a plea agreement in a Monessen drug case, online court records show.
In addition to the new weapons count, he also is charged with drug possession with intent to deliver, receiving stolen property, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.