Charleroi Man Sentenced In Stipulated Trial

A Charleroi man has been sentenced in an unusual trial for drug possession charges. John Beebe, 51 of Charleroi requested a Stipulated Trial.  According to his defense attorney Patrick Fitch, the method is used to bring a case to close, administer sentence and, most importantly, begin the process of appeal. Beebe was found guilty of 10 assorted drug and controlled substance possession charges and was sentenced to 10.5 to 22 years in prison. Fitch feels that decisions made in the Court of Common Pleas violate Beebe’s constitutional rights against illegal search and seizure as described in both the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions. In 2022 police executed a search warrant on Beebe’s home after Beebe’s employer turned packages delivered to his work place over to police. Inside the packages were caffeine powder, sweetener and 26,000 stamp bags. When the house was searched, police confiscated suspected heroin and fentanyl, firearms and $40,000 in cash. Now that the sentence is in place, Fitch says he will first appeal in Common Pleas Court for acquittal or a new trial. If denied, he will appeal to Pennsylvania Superior Court.