Kightlinger Sentenced on Marijuana Charge

COUDERSPORT – A Coudersport man has been sentenced on charges of marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Abe D. Kightlinger, age 30, was sentenced to a total of 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $1,426 in fines and court costs after pleading guilty to charges of Marijuana: Small Amount Personal Use (M), and Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M). He was also ordered to attend the Potter County DUI Victim Impact Panel Presentation and perform 15 hours of community service.

According to an Affidavit of Probable Cause, Kightlinger was observed to be in possession of alcoholic beverages while having a cookout with his co-defendant, Brianna Jones, at Cherry Springs State Park in August of last year.

Park Ranger Jason Patterson stated in the affidavit that after advising Kightlinger and Jones to empty the open beverages and put away the unopened containers, he observed a glass marijuana pipe sitting on a picnic table in plain view. Patterson said the pipe was initially hidden by Jones, who was holding a beer at the table, but became visible after she stood up.

Upon questioning, both defendants admitted the pipe was Jones’, but Kightlinger denied having smoked any. According to Ranger Patterson, Jones stated that Kightlinger did participate in smoking the marijuana, saying, “yea, he took one hit off of it”.

Patterson said subsequent laboratory testing of the paraphernalia revealed .07 grams of marijuana was contained in the pipe.

Jones was accepted in the ARD program on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia earlier this year.