Four Charged In Drug/Larceny Incident

Police said they lodged a total of 12 charges against four people following an incident involving theft and drugs on the night of August 3 at Newtown Shopping Village on Queen Street.

Police said they observed Carrie Hicks, 21, of 43-A Botsford Hill Rd, and Steven Buchholz, 21, of 104 Waterview Dr leaving the CVS store after they allegedly purchased several cartons of cigarettes with a stolen check.

Police said they then saw Hicks and Buchholz enter the parked vehicle of Margaret Paniccia, 24, of 65 Toddy Hill Road, which was occupied by Paniccia and by Justin Elander, 26, of 6 Old Castle Hill Road.

Following a pat-down of the vehicle’s occupants, police said they found hypodermic needles and narcotics.

Police said they charged Hicks and Buchholz each with third degree forgery, larceny by possession, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Elander was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police charged Paniccia with possession of narcotics (heroin), possession of drug paraphernalia, and sixth degree larceny.

Police said they held Hicks, Buchholz, and Elander each on $10,000 bail for August 4 arraignments at Danbury Superior Court.

Newtown police turned over Paniccia to Waterbury police who held an outstanding arrest warrant against her on unrelated charges. Paniccia is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on August 17 to answer the charges stemming from the August 3 incident.