Smethport Men Arrested on Drug Charges
Two Smethport men have been arrested for allegedly supplying drugs in McKean County.
28-year-old Zachary Nelson and 45-year-old Todd Ladlee were arrested Thursday by the McKean County Drug Task Force following a yearlong investigation.
Nelson is accused of selling cocaine to a confidential informant on a number of occasions and Ladlee is accused of selling Vicodin pills.
Both men are in McKean County Jail in lieu of bail with preliminary hearings tentatively scheduled for Monday in Smethport.
28-year-old Zachary Nelson and 45-year-old Todd Ladlee were arrested Thursday by the McKean County Drug Task Force following a yearlong investigation.
Nelson is accused of selling cocaine to a confidential informant on a number of occasions and Ladlee is accused of selling Vicodin pills.
Both men are in McKean County Jail in lieu of bail with preliminary hearings tentatively scheduled for Monday in Smethport.
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Comments
I know both of the accused and was very surprised by Mr. Nelson's arrest. Prayers go out to his family as they deal with this difficult issue. It has to be a parent's worst nightmare. Not withstanding, he was dealing drugs, he needs to be punished.
As for Mr. Ladlee, send him to jail for the rest of his life. He is never going to learn any lesson. I have known him since childhood. He came from a decent home, he just decided to take the wrong path in life.
Let's not be so quick to congratulate anyone. Give people the same benefits that you would want for your children or yourself. That is how you show respect to the families.
All it takes is for one to read the article and get the facts, (provided one CAN read). Presumption of innocence is an American right, dealing illegal drugs is NOT. With little doubt, anyone with scrupples ought to realize that after a year-long investigation is conducted, these charges are not simply "trumped-up" and it becomes obvious that no one was "framed" here.
Okay, we can have "sympathy" for the families of the individuals, (as any decent person ought to, for what the children, sibling, grandchild, nephew, or what have you, has done is embarassing and against the law. Look at it this way; anyone can make a mistake. However, that does not exclude the guilty person(s) from suffering the consequences of his or her "mistake". The word "mistake" in and of itself, I believe is even stretching it a bit as any adult, (of relative sound mind), living in McKean County knows that it is against the law to deal drugs. Therefore, their actions were purposeful and with malicious intent and for what? It's likely money was the driving factor but after a year-long investigation, it's not as though this was a "one-time thing" to pay the rent or feed the baby.
Again, I've no problem respecting the "families" but I believe that the families ought to show respect as well, for themselves, the youth in our county and perhaps even more for their own children/spouses/fathers/whatever, by coming forward and telling what they know. Mr. Ladlee & Mr. Nelson obvoiusly need some help with some serious problems. One usually does not merely "deal" narcotics without being a "user" as well. Maybe there's hope for them, (Ladlee & Nelson), if they can acknowledge, in all honesty, their waywardness, the reasons behind their criminal bent, and involvement in illicit drugs. Perhaps with the right counseling and rehabilitation, they too can turn their lives around and become productive citizens that build society up rather than destroy what's around them. Now, if their families would get behind them on that, (and I'm sure they love and care for them more than enough to do so), this would be very possible. What's more, it would be the best possible outcome for everyone involved. Still, if guilty, they cannot forego punishment, that's why we have laws, (under the Constitution of course).
Yes, under the constitution, the "accused" do have certain rights, however, those rights, while they were out on the street prior to their arrest, did NOT include dealing illegal narcotics, which obviously they have done as they were selling them to undercover agents and God knows who else. Of course, you're correct, they'll have their day in court and rightly so, they ought to be granted that.
They also have the right to flush their lives down the proverbial toilet by living such a lifestyle. It's a known statistical fact that the vast majority of people who traffic/deal narcotics also "use & abuse" narcotics. This right, while they are free to exercise it, does not give them license to corrupt others or make the same type of damaging drug available to others, (including area youth), for their own financial gain or what have you. In other words, you are correct, the kids that come into "my" classroom are "poor" in a sense, not because I am too quick to judge, but because older people are influencing them with drugs & alcohol. (Oh yes, it happens all the time in McKean Co. my friend; get the facts.) You see, I happen to have a "pulse" on what's happening with today's youth and I'm very saddened to say that they've enough bad influences without more drug pushers on the streets. Yes, after a year-long investigation, the time, effort, hard work, dedication and manpower, I believe the Drug Task Force ought to be congratulated for at least putting a dent in the problems that affect not only our youth but ALL of us here in McKean Co.
Now then, the familes cannot be completely blind as they must know something of the lifestyle these individuals live. If they deserve respect, (and I wholeheartedly believe they do), they ought to also "show" respect for area youth and their loved ones such as Mr. Ladlee & Mr. Nelson by "telling all they know." That's the first step in getting them the help these two men truly need in order that they might eventually be fit to enter society as productive citizens who "give back" and Build-up" instead of "destroying" with drugs and criminal acts.
Again, we'll wait to see if they're found "guilty" and, I agree that all too often people in general do rush to judgment however, this case seems pretty well put together and considering at least one of the individuals involved, I'm pretty certain that we'll be hearing the truth come out soon enough. The only sad part is, there are a hundred more out there doing the exact same thing.
Both of these bozos have been selling drugs for a looong time, it's common knowledge to anyone who goes into bars or knows anything about the local scene. Ladlee has a long list of priors, but Nelson doesn't. Also, Nelson was (is?) a salesman for ARG, so he is apparently smart enough (himself a college grad) to take the calculated risk of selling coke to, apparently (again) anyone who wanted it. I hope the police get a forensic auditor to determine how much he's made over the years by selling this poison and take everything he's got.
I hope they both get the max, but especially Nelson. He's a cocky little prick who thought he was smarter than the cops. Ladlee is a mouth breather, barely able to string a sentence together and usually doesn't even know where he's at. Hopefully both get an education in prison so they can come out and not be such morons, or any more of a burden on society than they already are.