Crime & Safety

Phoenixville Parent's Drug Case Delayed

Accused mom stays in prison instead of going to court Thursday. Case against accused dad moves forward.

No new evidence was heard in the cases of two young Phoenixville parents accused of selling drugs to undercover police.

Katrina Perez, 20, and John A. Lasorda, 21, of Bridge Street in Phoenixville were both scheduled for preliminary hearings in Phoenixville District Court 15-2-01 on Thursday morning.

Perez did not make it to court Thursday. Court officials tell Patch she stayed at Chester County Prison Thursday morning due to an unspecified medical problem. Her preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for July 11.

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Lasorda waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday morning and his case will now move on to a Common Pleas Court judge in West Chester. By waiving a preliminary hearing, Lasorda gives up his right to hear evidence and testimony against him prior to the case moving up the chain to Common Pleas court.  Waiving a hearing is not uncommon. 

Thursday's proceeding and the judge's decision to send the case to Common Pleas court means that the judge believes prosecutors presented enough evidence to make a prima facia case against Lasorda. The burden of proof for prosecutors is much higher when a case is heard in Common Pleas Court.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pereze and Lasorda are charged with selling heroin and marijuana to undercover police officers. Lasorda is charged with selling drugs on multiple occasions, including Valentine's Day.

According to court documents filed in the case, Phoenixville Police sold drugs to Lasorda on four dates in January and February of this year. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, Katrina Perez was present on one of those occasions on February 5. Police say that on February 5, the couple sold heroin to an undercover police officer and that the "defendant's infant son was present."

Police charge Lasorda with selling heroin and/or marijuana to undercover officers and a police informant on three additional dates, including Valentine's Day. In an affidavit of probable cause, police say the baby boy was present for two of the sales (including the alleged sale on February 5).

Katrina Perez is being held in Chester County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

John Lasorda is being held in Chester County Prison in lieu of $3,500 cash bail.

A date has not yet been set for Lasorda's case in West Chester.


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