LOCK HAVEN - The four people charged in what has been called the largest drug bust in Clinton County in at least the last five years will have their first formal court appearance on Tuesday.
Jesse James Kline, 26, and Joshua Lee Tieck, 22, both of 246 N. Hampton St.; and Michael Patrick Petsch, 23, and Collin Gregory Kunes, 23, both of 111 Commerce St., are scheduled for a "first appearance" in the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The four face prison time on numerous charges after searches conducted Wednesday morning produced a total of $18,600 in cash, over three pounds of marijuana, one gram of cocaine and two guns from the two houses and two vehicles, according to police.
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Collin Gregory Kunes
A search of Pennsylvania court records showed only one of the four - Kunes - has faced criminal charges previously in the state. Kunes was sentenced to probation after he plead guilty on April 19 to posession of a small amount of marijuana on Dec. 26, 2011.
Kline is facing a total maximum penalty of 70 years in prison if convicted of all the 13 charges against him. All but one of the charges are considered felonies.
Tieck and Petsch both face a total maximum prison time of 50 years. Tieck is facing eight charges, all but two are felonies; and Petsch is charged with nine charges, all but one are felonies.
Kunes faces a maximum of 17 years on prison, on five charges, three of which are felonies.
However, District Attorney Mike Salisbury said Petsch and Kunes could face longer sentences if it's determined, as Salisbury believes, their house is located in a drug-free school zone, near Dickey Elementary School and the Tiger Den Playground.
The arrests came after a two-month investigation, where a confidential informant made several "buys" from the two houses, police allege.
The investigation involved the Attorney General's Office East Drug Task Force and its Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, Lock Haven City police, Woodward and Pine Creek Township police, Lock Haven University police and a K-9 unit from state police at Montoursville.
