Three face drug, weapon charges in Harbeson stop

Three men face charges Jan. 11 after police say they found drugs and weapons on them while stopped near Harbeson.

Police were called at 5:48 a.m. to Phillips Branch Road east of Indian Mission Road for a suspicious car, said Sr. Cpl. Leonard DeMalto of the Delaware State Police.

They found a 2016 Honda Civic pulled over with four occupants inside; it appeared that a woman had been involved in an altercation with two men outside the car, DeMalto said.

The driver, Samuel Mondestin, 19, of Seaford, had a small bottle protruding from his sock that police said contained about 5 grams of cocaine. DeMalto said Mondestin also had ammunition and about .028 grams of suspected heroin. Mondestin was taken into custody without incident. When police asked rear passengers Witley Francin, 19, of Lincoln, and a man, 18, of Milford, to exit the car, DeMalto said, they refused and resisted arrest. After a short struggle, police said, police took them into custody and found about 6 grams of crack cocaine on Francin. Police found brass knuckles and 14 prescription pills on the 18-year-old. A woman, 20, of Milton, was a passenger in the front seat and resisted arrest before she was taken into custody, DeMalto said.

While searching the Honda, DeMalto said, police found a loaded Ruger handgun and about 2.43 grams of marijuana. Dover police had reported the handgun stolen in August 2022. Mondestin was also found to be violating an active court order prohibiting him from possessing firearms, DeMalto said.

All four defendants were taken to Troop 7, arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2, and charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest. The woman was released on her own recognizance. The 18-year-old was also charged with carrying a concealed dangerous instrument, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia – all misdemeanors. He was arraigned and was released on $2,000 unsecured bond.

Mondestin and Francin were charged with felonies – possession of a firearm while possessing a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by person under 21, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance in a tier 1 quantity, and second-degree conspiracy. Mondestin was also charged with felony breach of release, and misdemeanors possession of a firearm while under the influence and possession of a controlled substance; Francin also faces misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of cash bond: Mondestin on $41,500, and Francin on $21,500.