Woman faces drug charge, ordered to counseling

A Springfield woman facing a misdemeanor drug charge has been ordered to meet with a substance-abuse counselor while she awaits trial.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150911/NEWS02/709119899

Amanda Graso of Springfield is accused of narcotics possession. Photo: Photo by Eric FrancisPublished September 11, 2015 in the Rutland Herald Woman faces drug charge, ordered to counseling By ERIC FRANCIS CORRESPONDENT WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A Springfield woman facing a misdemeanor drug charge has been ordered to meet with a substance-abuse counselor while she awaits trial. Amanda Graso, 31, pleaded innocent to possession of a narcotic and unlawful mischief this week before she was released on conditions. Springfield Police Officer Anthony Moriglioni wrote in an affidavit that his case against Graso was sidetracked because police mistakenly believed that, following her arrest, she had overdosed and died in late May. She later told the officer she “barely” recovered. The narcotics possession charge stems from a traffic stop near the Springfield Shopping Plaza on April 14 when a car carrying three female passengers was pulled over because the driver was on his cellphone, Moriglioni wrote. Graso initially used her sister’s name at the scene and her correct identity wasn’t discovered until the group was taken to the police station, the officer said. Police said they found three handguns in the car, one of which turned out to be a toy, along with a tin containing “bath salts,” what appeared to be empty heroin bags and drug paraphernalia. Graso was the only person in the car who was charged. Graso told police she did house cleaning for Springfield resident Louis Turcio, who has pleaded innocent to drug-related charges. She said people at Turcio’s home feared a drug raid. “Grasso advised that a bunch of paraphernalia was stuffed into a bag and handed to her to carry,” Moriglioni wrote. “… She (said) she didn’t know the bag she carried had any bath salts in it.”