(SMETHPORT, Pennsylvania: June 13, 2023):  Following a 2 day jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse, Walter Lee Dennis, Jr., was convicted of crimes related to narcotics that occurred on March 27 and March 28, 2022 in McKean County.

District Attorney Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that Detectives with the McKean County Drug Task Force learned DENNIS was intending to deliver narcotics to an individual.  They placed him under surveillance.  Detectives knew DENNIS was wanted on an unrelated matter. When officers observed him arrive at the destination to deliver a controlled substance, he was taken into custody on a warrant on another matter.  A subsequent search on-scene located crack cocaine and 83 empty glassine bags commonly used as a packaging material for narcotics.

Acting on a tip that DENNIS may have attempted to conceal the narcotics he had intended to deliver by hiding them inside his body, Detectives alerted staff at the McKean County Jail.

During the booking process, Corrections’ Officers observed a suspicious item in DENNIS’ body and directed him to shower per policy.  Subsequently, they located approximately 15 wet, soggy glassine bags in the shower’s drain and shower floor around the drain.  

The glassine bags matched the bags found on DENNIS at the time of his arrest.  The lab identified the substance on the wet bags as being a mixture of fentanyl and tramadol – both controlled substances. 

The McKean County Drug Task Force was assisted by City of Bradford Officers, Bradford Township Officers, and Corrections’ Officers at the McKean County Jail.

Dennis was charged and convicted of Contraband (brining controlled substance inside a jail) –

(Felony 2); Possession of a Controlled Substance by Inmate (Felony 2); Possession with Intent to Deliver (fentanyl and tramadol) (Felony); Tampering with Evidence (Misdemeanor 2); 2 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl with Tramadol and Crack Cocaine) (Misdemeanors); and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility to facilitate a Felony Drug  Crime (Felony 3).

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.  Detective Kolin Strawcutter with the McKean County Drug Task Force investigated the case.

Sentencing has been scheduled by the Court for July 20, 2023.

If you suspect illegal drug activity, please report it to the McKean County Drug Task Force at MCDTFtip@gmail.com.