Drug sting in Apollo leads to arrest of Vandergrift, West Deer suspects accused of selling meth
Two people who were the target of a drug investigation this summer by Apollo police and the Armstrong County Drug Task Force face felony charges for allegedly selling methamphetamine.
Curtis John Hepler, 63, of the 100 block of Hamilton Avenue in Vandergrift was charged with four felony counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver along with eight other drug-related charges.
Hepler was released from the Armstrong County Jail after a Pittsburgh bail agency posted a $15,000 bond on his behalf, according to court records. He was ordered to stand trial by District Judge James Andring during an Oct. 19 preliminary hearing.
According to a criminal complaint, Hepler sold meth to an informant on two occasions. Police said an officer observed the informant arranging to buy the illicit drugs from Hepler and identified him as the seller once the deal was completed, the complaint said.
Kimberly A. Hepler, 55, of the 300 block of Inwood Court in West Deer was charged with two felony counts of possession of drugs with the intent to deliver along with four related drug charges, according to court records.
She was released from custody on an unsecured bond. She faces a preliminary hearing before Andring on Nov. 19.
Investigators said she was involved in one transaction to sell meth to an informant.
The criminal complaints indicate that both Heplers were the subject of the same undercover investigation but does not say whether they are relatives.
Tony LaRussa is a TribLive reporter. A Pittsburgh native, he covers crime and courts in the Alle-Kiski Valley. He can be reached at tlarussa@triblive.com.
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