AUGUSTA — A judge on Wednesday set bail at $75,000 cash for a Vassalboro man charged with two counts of unlawful trafficking fentanyl, both of which are alleged to have occurred last November.
Joseph G. Munster III, 37, was seen at the Capital Judicial Center via video from the Kennebec County jail.
An affidavit filed at the court by Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Katelyn Nichols says Munster conducted two sales of heroin, one on Main Street in Vassalboro on Nov. 8, 2017, and one on Nov. 27, 2017, at 30 Osborne St., Fairfield.
In both instances, a confidential informant was equipped with an electronic transmitting device and supplied with $180 of prerecorded buy money, Nichols wrote.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Katie Sibley, requested bail be set at $20,000 cash with conditions, including a one that prohibits Munster from returning to 30 Osborne St. She said the cases were “two very serious felonies involving fentanyl,” hat Munster had twice failed to appear for previous court hearings and that other charges were pending in Kennebec County.
“His criminal history is extremely lengthy,” Sibley told Nale.
Attorney Matthew Kanwit, serving as lawyer of the day for the defendant, said Munster “can’t come up with anywhere near that kind of money and neither can anyone in his family.”
He said Munster was arrested Tuesday when he came to court for hearings on charges of theft and violating conditions of release, “so he basically turned himself in.”
Kanwit said Munster has been in substance abuse treatment and is “clean and sober 108 days today.”
He suggested a bail of $500 and a Maine Pretrial Supervision contract.
Judge Tom Nale set bail at $75.000 cash with the conditions requested by Sibley.
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