PORT ANGELES — Ralph O. Needham of Port Angeles was charged Friday with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance after he allegedly sold heroin to Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team informants last summer.
Needham, 37, was released from the Clallam County jail on his own recognizance after a preliminary court hearing Friday.
He will be arraigned this Friday in Clallam County Superior Court.
Sheriff’s detectives said in court papers that Needham sold 1.9 grams of heroin to an OPNET informant at the Safeway store just east of Port Angeles on July 6.
He allegedly sold 1.4 grams of heroin to an OPNET informant near a Port Angeles gas station one week later.
A third sale — 1.9 grams of heroin — was allegedly made through a third party at the 1300 block of East Front Street on July 27.
Lab confirmation
A State Patrol crime lab confirmed that the substance in all three cases was heroin, court papers said.
OPNET officials said each of the sales occurred near a school bus stop.
Needham was arrested Thursday at his residence at 212 W. Second St. in Port Angeles.
According to the certification for probable cause, Needham told investigators that he sold the drug to support his own addiction.
Needham was ordered to maintain an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew as part of his conditions of release.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
