FRACKVILLE— A State College man waived his right to a preliminary hearing on methamphetamine and other drug charges Wednesday.
Caelan Houk, 25, appeared before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli for a 1:15 p.m. hearing. The case now proceeds to the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
He was held in Schuylkill County Prison on March 4 when he was unable to post $250,000 straight cash bail, but posted bail March 10 and was released, according to court records.
On March 4 state police charged Houk with felony manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver (methamphetamine), possession of a firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license and a misdemeanor charge of possessing a controlled substance when not authorized to do so, according to court documents.
The investigation into Houk was a joint effort by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office, Drug Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police Troop L Reading, Troop G Holidaysburg.
The investigation is ongoing.
According to charging documents filed in Schuylkill County, police noticed Houk leave his suspected residence with a cardboard box, which he placed in his vehicle. While in West Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County, they stopped Houk, who refused to give officers permission to search his vehicle.
After a search and seizure warrant was issued by Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, police found a large bag of suspected methamphetamine in the box in the trunk, believed to be the same box Houk was seen with earlier, according to documents. A field test of the substance yielded positive results for methamphetamine, according to court documents.
A Taurus PP24/7 Pro .9mm pistol with 12 rounds was also found in the vehicle, according to documents.
Houk is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm due to a prior criminal offense, according to documents.
Meanwhile, a search and seizure warrant executed by state police, Centre County Drug Task Force and the State College Police Department at what police believe to be his residence found the following:
• Approximately three pounds of suspected methamphetamine with an estimate street value of more than $54,000
• A Smith and Wesson .45 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number
• Approximately one ounce of psilocybin mushrooms with an estimated street value in excess of $200
• Approximately 380 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills, having a street value of about $3,800
• Several hundred amphetamine pills and anabolic steroids
