JOHNSONBURG — A Brockport man is currently facing charges in district court after allegedly leaving various items of drug paraphernalia and a marijuana plant in a residence that he had previously rented.
Joseph Michael Costanzo III, 29, has been charged with 19 misdemeanors in district court.
An affidavit of probable cause outlining the charges was obtained from the office of Magisterial District Judge James L. Martin.
The affidavit indicated that on Oct. 3, troopers were informed that a landlord was concerned about his rental location on Jarrett Street in Wilcox. The landlord reported that he saw suspected drug paraphernalia in the home.
When troopers arrived on scene, the landlord reported that he had rented the property to Costanzo and another individual since December 2015. Additionally, the landlord reported that he was told the two had left the rental, leaving it vacant for about a month, according to court documents.
The landlord went to check on the rental but called troopers after finding suspected drug paraphernalia, the affidavit said.
The affidavit said troopers entered the home and immediately found several items of drug paraphernalia. Continuing through the home, troopers also found several signs and posters with marijuana references on them, and hanging on a wall in the home was a suspected marijuana plant.
Costanzo was later interviewed by police. Court documents said Costanzo allegedly stated that he and the other tenant were drug users in the past and that he had served time in the past for manufacturing marijuana.
Additionally, Costanzo allegedly stated that he could not afford marijuana off the street and used the plant in the home to help alleviate pain that stemmed from two vehicle accidents that he had been in. He allegedly added the savings from having the plant helped him to support his family.
Costanzo reportedly admitted to owning all of the drug paraphernalia in the home.
As a result of the incident, Costanzo has been charged with six counts of intent to possess a controlled substance by a person not regulated, eight counts of use or possession of drug paraphernalia and five counts of possession of an instrument of crime with intent.
Costanzo is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before Martin at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 16.
Online court documents do not list an attorney for Costanzo. The Commonwealth will be represented by the Elk County District Attorney’s Office.
