WEST CHESTER: THE "NEW" KENSINGTON

Well, it appears as though the scumbags have invaded West Chester.  It was only a matter of time, and an even bigger relief for me that I am in a relatively safe section of Northeast Philadelphia instead of a town that is starting to decline.

West Chester Police announced the arrest of four men as part of a massive cocaine and heroin operation that centered around the home of one Vincent Marchant and at the highly controversial Star Social Club on the 200 block of East Market Street.

Charges against Marchant were held in District Court on August 23, however, on-line records indicate that the case was nolle prossed on at his formal arraignment on September 2 (CP-15-CR-0002922-2010). Though it's not clear why the case was withdrawn from Common Pleas Court, it appears that the U.S. Attorney's office may have taken jurisdiction of the case.  Why else would there be 11 arrests over a five day period involving drug transactions allegedly overseen by Marchant?

Marchant, you may be surprised to learn, has a bit of a history with the county and state prison systems.  Well, readers of my former blog might not be, but anyway:

• 1995: Marchant pleads guilty to Aggravated Assault after an August 1994 incident in East Goshen and is sentenced to 11 1/2-to-23 months at CCP (CP-15-CR-0002832-1994)
• 1995: Marchant pleads guilty to three separate PWID cases (CP-15-CR-0000516, 0000518, and 0000519-1995) and is sentenced to 30 months to 7 years in state prison.
• 2002: Marchant pleads guilty to three separate PWID cases (CP-15-CR-0003050, 3051, 3052-2001) and is sentenced to 5-to-10 years in state prison.

If the allegations are true, then what were the people in charge of the Star Social Club, who have already come under fire from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board after a 2008 raid (after which the LCB "assisted" the club's management in complying with the Liquor Code), thinking in allowing Marchant - a two-time loser under the state's drug dealing laws - to be on the property?

Section 4-493 (14) of the Liquor Code reads as follows:

It shall be unlawful ... [f]or any hotel, restaurant or club liquor licensee, or any retail dispenser, his servants, agents or employes, to permit persons of ill repute or prostitutes to frequent his licensed premises or any premises operated in connection therewith.

One would think that Marchant would fit the description of a "person of ill repute" but then again, the Pennsylvania liquor bureaucrats tend to be more of a "wink and nudge" enforcement agency when it comes to establishments.
In any event, on the heels of the arrest of four men over the weekend, West Chester Police have arrested three more defendants, who were arraigned earlier this afternoon:

• Holly Anita Ridgeway, 43, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000286-2010);
• Roger W. White, 44, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000287-2010); and
• Eriberto Roman, 40, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000288-2010).

All three defendants were arraigned on charges of Criminal Soliciation-PWID and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.  Roman was also arraigned on charges of PWID and Possession of a Controlled Substance.  They were committed to Chester County Prison in default of $250,000 cash bail, with preliminary hearings scheduled for November 4.

In addition, West Chester Police have issued warrants for the arrests of five other suspects as part of the investigation:

• Tanya Lomax, 44, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000281-2010);
• Marta Marquez, 39, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000282-2010);
• Robert Ross Kullman, 30, of Honey Brook (MJ-15104-CR-0000283-2010);
• Garfield Meachem, 57, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000284-2010);
• Joshua Wilkins, 26, of West Chester (MJ-15104-CR-0000285-2010).

All five face charges of Criminal Solicitation-PWID and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.  Lomax, Marquez, and Wilkins also charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Arrests and/or arraignments for all five suspects are pending.

If it weren't for the fact that a major state university and the Chester County government also call West Chester home, then the borough would really be no better than Coatesville, or even Kensington.

Of course, that's just my opinion ... and as always, you're entitled to it.