Charges denied in major drug bust

Keith Whitcomb Jr.

Jun. 9, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BENNINGTON -- A woman arrested in connection with a large-scale drug bust that occurred last week pleaded not guilty in Bennington DistrictCourt Monday to three counts of narcotics possession and one count of possession of stolen property.

Jessica Stratton, 28, of Pownal, was taken into custody on June 3 after police responded to a report of a drug overdose at the Apple Valley Inn in Bennington. She was arrested along with her boyfriend, Jason Seifert, 23, of Hoosick, N.Y. Jessica Stratton was found unconscious by police, but was treated and sent to the Marble Valley Correctional Facility along with Seifert.

Stratton appeared in Rutland District Court Friday for arraignment, but invoked the 24-hour rule which allows for a delay in arraignment proceedings.

Thousands of dollars worth of prescription medication were confiscated from the hotel room, police said, as well as from Stratton and Seifert's car. The incident at the inn led police to obtain a search warrant for a residence on Breese Hollow Road in Hoosick, N.Y., where more prescription drugs were found along with 900 young marijuana plants.

Michael Stratton, 25, and his twin brother, Mark Stratton, were arrested at the home, along with David Oakes.

All three were charged in Rensselaer County with criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child. Michael Stratton and Oakes were charged with criminal

possession of stolen property.

Police discovered four children under the age of 4 living at the home. Police said they found them playing with filled prescription bottles and found uncapped, loaded syringes scattered around the house. The children appeared in good health and were released to the custody of a relative.

Washington County District Attorney Kevin Kortright said in an interview Monday that the only charge in Washington County he is aware of is a burglary count against Seifert concerning a break-in at O'Hearn's Pharmacy in Cambridge.

Bennington County State's Attorney Erica Marthage asked the court to raise the bail on Jessica Stratton to $100,000 because she said Stratton poses a significant flight risk. Marthage said Stratton told police she lives in Pownal, but actually resides on the Breese Hollow Road in Hoosick.

Judge John Wesley raised Jessica Stratton's bail to $50,000 and imposed conditions that she report to the Bennington Police Department on a daily basis, not leave Bennington County, and have no contact with Seifert.

Marthage said Jessica Stratton has a case pending in New York involving a hit-and-run, as well as child endangerment. She said Seifert is facing burglary charges in New York, and police are investigating to learn whether Jessica Stratton has a connection to the burglaries.

Marthage said after meeting with Assistant U.S. District Attorney Dan Hanlon, along with attorneys from Washington and Rensselaer County, that she believes the burglary and narcotics charges will be prosecuted by their respective counties.

Hanlon said in an interview Monday that no federal charges have yet been filed against anyone in the case. "The amount of marijuana seized definitely meets our threshold for federal prosecution," Hanlon said.

Marthage said Mark and Michael Stratton were scheduled to be arraigned in Rensselaer County Monday. Attempts to contact the attorneys from the Rensselaer County District Attorney's office Monday were not successful.

Contact Keith Whitcomb at kwhitcomb@benningtonbanner.com.

Newstex ID: 35607866