A house fire late last year in Quakertown has led to criminal drug charges against several suspects. One, who was convicted of selling drugs in the borough six years ago, remains at large. Charges against Michael Levi Wentz, 27, are listed as inactive, according to information posted on a state judicial website.

            A Dec. 2, 2022 blaze in the borough led local authorities to take four suspects into custody. They arrested Alejandro Fortanel-Pacheco, 35, of Park Avenue and Tiffany Ibbetson, 43, later in the month on illegal drug possession charges.

            In February, police filed charges against three additional suspects. Alexus Marie Ibbetson, 26, whose last known address is on South Hellertown Avenue, faces five felony counts of illegal drug possession with the intent to deliver, and related drug charges, including felony child endangerment. Mattilin Rose Kealy, 21, of Easton, MD, faces two felony counts of endangering the welfare of children and drug possession charges.

            Wentz, who is on parole following a state prison sentence from a 2017 drug conviction, has yet to appear for a preliminary arraignment before Richland Township District Judge Lisa Gaier. He faces five counts of illegal drug possession with the intent to deliver and related drug charges, as well as two felony child endangerment charges.

            At 9:19 a.m. on Dec. 2, local police, the Quakertown Borough Fire Department and surrounding mutual aid companies were dispatched to the 100 block of South Hellertown Avenue for a dwelling fire. An officer at the scene identified Wentz, Alexus Ibbetson, Kealy, and a two-year-old child inside the residence at the time of the incident.

            He later learned that Fortanel-Pacheco resided in the basement with Tiffany Ibbetson, according to the police criminal complaint filed against Alexus Ibbetson.

            Wentz told a responding officer, who accompanied him into the house to try to get a dog leash, that he and Alexis were in an upstairs waterbed that caught fire. The man tried to deny residing at the house, according to the legal document.

            After the fire was extinguished Fire Marshal Douglas Wilhelm, as part of his investigation, observed items recognized to be suspected drug paraphernalia on the living room coffee table, including a medical marijuana container for another person. The evidence indicated marijuana was being smoked, which is illegal under the medical marijuana act, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

             Asked by a police officer if there were any other illegal items in the house, Wentz said that whatever was seen there was it, but that those items were his. He then told authorities that he remembers seeing an unused needle on the bed where the fire started, according to a separate legal document filed Dec. 27, 2022 against Fortanel-Pacheco.

            While Wilhelm spoke to Alexus Ibbetson, Wentz continually tried to interrupt and overhear the conversation. After she was informed the residence would be secured for a search warrant due to the observations of illegal drug activity, Wentz left the scene.

            A search warrant served a few hours later resulted in the discovery of a folding table in the living room with multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia, as well as a medical marijuana container. The room also contained numerous children's toys.

            In the bedroom utilized by Wentz and Alexus Ibbetson, law enforcement officials claim to have discovered a dresser containing a plastic Ziploc baggie that contained clear plastic baggies and waxy baggies containing a powdery substance suspected to be fentanyl/heroin along with numerous needles, according to the document.

            In the debris on and around the bed, police allegedly discovered pieces of needles, including partially melted orange caps. They also identified a black safe that was forcibly opened and held a clear plastic Ziploc baggie containing at least 511 blue rectangular pills marked "B707" and additional pieces of pills suspected to be Alprazolam, along with multiple clear and/or waxy baggies containing suspected heroin/fentanyl, consistent with what was found in the dresser, the legal paperwork states.

            In another second-floor bedroom, authorities claim to have discovered suspected marijuana on a tray within five feet of the bed of a two-year-old child as well as a burnt piece of a suspected marijuana joint on a nearby window sill. Police also identified a black Glock replica air pistol resting on a sink in a second-floor bathroom.

            In a bedroom basement, the search allegedly discovered two baggies of suspected methamphetamine in a dresser drawer, new/unused packaging material, including white waxy baggies commonly used for packaging heroin/fentanyl, a cut piece of straw commonly used for snorting controlled substances and another clear plastic baggie.

            In the closet, police uncovered a purse containing drug paraphernalia along with another baggie of suspected methamphetamine, as well as a glass smoking pipe with suspected marijuana residue along with an empty medical marijuana container.

            Bucks County law enforcement received tips regarding Wentz and Alexus Ibbetson in late October and early November. One report had him staying with her at an unknown address.

            Wentz provided his parole officer with a home address in Allentown. The officer observed Wentz and his girlfriend outside the residence on South Hellertown Avenue carrying groceries into the house from a vehicle.

            During a Feb. 21 preliminary arraignment for Kealy, Gaier set bail in the case at $10,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 13.

            The judge set bail for Alexus Ibbetson at $50,000 unsecured during a Feb. 16 preliminary arraignment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 9.

            Preliminary hearings for Alejandro Fortanel-Pacheco and Tiffany Ibbetson were both scheduled for Feb. 23, according to the judicial website.