Standout Monessen basketball player charged with marijuana possession, criminal trespass

A standout player on Monessen High School’s basketball team is charged with drug possession after police said he and two juveniles were found smoking marijuana in an abandoned house.

Police were called to the 600 block of Reed Avenue in the city just before 1:15 p.m. Sunday. The building’s owner said he didn’t give permission for anyone to be inside the house.

As additional officers arrived at the scene, the front door opened and three males came outside. Two were juveniles, and the third was identified as Lorenzo Gardner, 18, of Monessen, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

After clearing the building, officers discovered a book bag containing “a large amount of marijuana” — police did not specify how much — scales, baggies, drug paraphernalia, two bottles of alcohol, two hatchets and firearm ammunition, according to a criminal complaint filed Aug. 28.

The front and back doors of the building also were sprayed with graffiti, according to court documents.

Monessen police Chief David Yuhasz said none of the three teens would claim ownership of the book bag.

Gardner was charged with criminal trespass, drug possession with intent to deliver, criminal mischief, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail pending a Sept. 8 preliminary hearing.

An attorney for Gardner was not listed in court records.

Gardner, who is a senior at Monessen, scored his 1,000th point earlier this year in a WPIAL home playoff game.