Youth Tried In Absentia Found Guilty Of Drug Crimes
By Craig Schaffer
Jul 1, 2008, 07:57
A drug trial in Blair County court Monday featured witnesses, lawyers and a judge but no defendant.
The trial centered around accusations that a 17 year old from Brooklyn New York participated in the operation of a crack house on the 200 block of Willow Avenue in Altoona.
The young man known as CJ was found guilty of possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy and possession of controlled substances.
The case was ordered to proceed in absentia after Judge Thomas Peoples learned that both the suspect and his mother had received notice of the trial date.
It was the first time such a trial took place in juvenile court.
