Regional Heroin Suspect Caught in Kittanning Sentenced to Jail

The second man arrested by Kittanning Borough police officers during a traffic stop in March has been sentenced to serve jail time.

Aaron Doyle, now 29, of Dubois was sentenced to up to a year in the Armstrong County Jail and 30 hours of community service after being stopped by Officers Greg Koprivnak and Joe Riskosky Friday, March 14.

During that traffic stop, Doyle was said to be attempting to switch seats with another vehicle occupant – Brandon Shaffer – 29 of McKean – and officers saw a syringe and empty stamp bags of suspected heroin in the drivers’ side door compartment.

Continued search of the vehicle revealed additional drug paraphernalia, more than $3,600 in cash and three bricks of heroin.

Doyle plead guilty to the two misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance in October.

Shaffer was also interesting to officers, and during further interviews at the Borough police department on South McKean Street, Officer Eric Baum noted Shaffer’s demeanor and clothing matched a description and video footage of an attempted armed robbery suspect at the Honey Bear convenience store Sunday March 9.

Shaffer confessed to the crime, and was sentenced to two years of probation before Judge Panchik last month.

At the time of his plea, Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Charlton said the District Attorney’s office recommended six months to two years as a sentence.

He also admitted guilt with intent to use cocaine found in the vehicle during the traffic stop.