Richland Man Sentenced to Probation on Drug Charge; Case Against Girlfriend Dismissed

Common Pleas Judge Anthony M. Mariani sentenced a Richland man to six months probation on a drug-related charge and dismissed a case against the man's girlfriend.

Ernest G. Nicholas III, 35, pleaded guilty Thursday to one misdemeanor count—possession of a controlled substance. The district attorney's office withdrew nine other charges against Nicholas.

The case against Nicholas' girlfriend, 36-year-old Megan Kifer, was dismissed.

Nicholas and Kifer were each charged with felony counts of conspiracy and possessing hashish and marijuana with the intent to distribute it. They also faced eight misdemeanor counts of possessing a controlled substance.

The couple was charged after a Hampton police detective went to their home on Route 910/Gibsonia Road in July 2011 to serve a felony drug arrest warrant on 26-year-old Jason Zunic of Allison Park after receiving a tip that he was at the house.

Northern Regional police also were called in. 

As Detective Robert Grondwalski walked through the house to get to Zunic, who was hiding upstairs, he saw what he suspected to be drugs along with drug paraphernalia in the house, according to the criminal complaint.

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