The Pennsylvania Attorney General's request to bypass the preliminary hearing for five men charged in a $1 million cocaine ring was shot down by a Centre County judge in court Thursday, defense attorney Philip Masorti said.
Edwin Rhoades, 38, James Losch, 47, Brian King, 27, Hasan Bradley, 29, and Andre Spangler, 30, were all charged with bringing hundreds of ounces of cocaine to the State College area.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett's office said it would be a waste of taxpayer money to hold the preliminary hearings since there was already enough evidence to charge the men, Masorti said. But, he added, the commonwealth was unable to determine how much the court hearings would cost.
Centre County Judge Pamela Ruest denied Corbett's request Thursday. The preliminary hearings for the five men will be held at 8:30 a.m. next Wednesday in the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Masorti said.
Representatives from the Attorney General's office did not return requests for comment as of press time Thursday.
Masorti said Corbett is using the criminal justice system for political gain. Corbett is running as a Republican in the 2010 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race.
"It is designed to get maximum exposure for him," Masorti said.
State narcotics agents estimate that the five men were responsible for bringing about $1 million in cocaine into the Centre County area since 2008. Authorities suspect the organization distributed about 20 pounds of cocaine since the investigation began in 2009.
Known as "Operation Rhoade Block," the investigation began in January 2009 and focused on the distribution of several hundred ounces of cocaine in the State College area, Corbett said in a press release earlier this week.
Masorti, who is representing Rhoades, said his client is innocent.
"It doesn't appear that they have solid evidence against my client," Masorti said. "I will defend him aggressively. There is insufficient evidence to prove the charges against Rhoades."
Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira could not be reached for comment as of press time.
