Angelina G. Pagano
Jacob A. Lisheness
Selina M. Hine
WESTFIELD – Westfield police confiscated 57 grams of cocaine found under the hood of a vehicle after a traffic stop over the weekend.
At 10:30 p.m. Friday night, police stopped a vehicle near the Evangelical Free Church, located at 568 Southwick Road, for probable cause of drug trafficking.
Jacob A. Lisheness, 32, of Westfield, was arested on charges of cocaine trafficking in 36-100 grams and conspiracy to violate drug law with two others, including his girlfriend, Selina M. Hine, 21, of Westfield and the driver of the vehicle, Angelina G. Pagano, 22, of Westfield, according to police logs.
Hine and Pagano were also charged with cocaine trafficking in 36-100 grams.
Lisheness was released on $2,500 cash and was arraigned in Westfield District Court on Monday.
Police, including detectives and officers from a number of communities, had reason to believe the group had gone to Hartford to pick up cocaine, which they intended to distribute in the Westfield/Southwick area, Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said Monday morning.
The law allows law enforcement officials who have probable cause to stop and search motor vehicles without a search warrant, McCabe said.
McCabe explained that probable cause means there are facts and circumstances that would lead a prudent person to believe a crime has been committed, is being committed or will be committed.
Upon searching the vehicle, police found a box containing the cocaine, which has a street value of $100 per gram, in the hood compartment of Pagano’s 2008 Volkswagen, according to McCabe.
Pagano was charged because “it’s abnormal to drive with people who put things in your hood without your knowledge,” McCabe said.
According to Massachusetts General law, drug trafficking of
36 grams or more but less than 100 grams, shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 5 nor more than 30 years.
“No sentence imposed under this clause shall be for less than a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years, and a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $50,000 may be imposed, but not in lieu of the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, as established herein,” according to malegislature.gov.
In July, Lisheness was charged with two counts of threat to commit a crime when he allegedly arranged for three men to go to the Sky Box Sports Bar, located at 25 Point Grove Road, on May 10 to beat up a patron. Allegedly, he also threatened to rape and kill a witness if she interfered with his plan.
Lisheness was due back in Westfield District Court on Thursday for a pretrial hearing on that case, but his attorney didn’t appear, so the case was continued till September 29.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
