Man gets prison for firearm and drug charges

A Wooster man received prison time after admitting to another drug charge and possessing a firearm.

Nicholas J. Trepal, 19, 4862 Emplane Road, was sentenced to six months in prison Wednesday in Wayne County Common Pleas Court.

He pleaded guilty in two separate cases to improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle (a fourth-degree felony and more serious charge) and possession of cocaine.

The cocaine charge stemmed from an investigation in December by the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency, confirmed Donald Hall, the agency's director.

Then, Trepal was a passenger in a car Jan. 28 that was stopped for speeding on Cleveland Road. The report indicates the officer smelled of marijuana and asked to search Trepal, the driver and the vehicle. While searching Trepal, a loaded .380 pistol with the serial number scratched off was found in his jacket.

"When he was searched, the officer felt what appeared to be a firearm," said Wooster Police Capt. Scott Rotolo. "It turned out that it was."

Trepal told police he purchased the firearm a few days after he was reportedly robbed. He also said he was addicted to cocaine, but was trying to stop.

But since Trepal was on probation after pleading guilty to trafficking marijuana earlier in the year, he was prohibited from having a firearm.

Judge Corey Spitler presided over both cases.

Published by the-daily-record.com.