Butler woman sentenced in two cases
A Butler woman being held in state prison appeared in an oversized blue mask via video Tuesday to be sentenced for two cases that took place in Butler County.
Nancy A. Hinchberger, 53, was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCune to a total of 2 to 4 years after previously pleading guilty in both cases.
In one case, she was charged with smuggling crack cocaine into Butler County Prison in 2019. In the second case, she eluded police in a car while driving under the influence in 2018.
She received credit for incarcerated time served between Aug. 3, 2018, to April 28.
For the driving under the influence case, Hinchberger also must serve 150 hours of community service and pay $2,500 in fines.
Fidgeting with her mask, Hinchberger declined to make a comment. State prisoners, like the rest of Pennsylvanians, are required to wear face masks in an attempt to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Hinchberger pleaded guilty to felony possessing contraband/controlled substance on Dec. 12, 2019.
In the second case, she pleaded guilty on the same day to felony fleeing officers and misdemeanors of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content greater than .02 percent with a suspended license.
She is being held in State Correctional Institution Muncy. Hinchberger had been incarcerated since Aug. 3, 2018, when Butler Township police arrested her on a bench warrant after they found her at a Route 8 motel and a subsequent search, police said, turned up a baggie and a plastic container with suspected crack cocaine.
She was taken to the Butler County Prison and placed in a dry cell — a room without plumbing — over suspicion that she may have drugs hidden in her, according to charging documents.
On Aug. 6, an officer found three bags containing what appeared to be crack, detectives said, that were in an empty drink container in the dry cell.
Tim Fennell, the county's chief detective, said the bags contained a combined 16.1 grams of suspected crack. He noted that weight amounted to more than just personal use.
Hinchberger told detectives that Aug. 3 when police came to the motel room where she was, “she was afraid the room would be searched, so she hid the crack inside herself,” Fennell's affidavit said.
In the other case, troopers were called about 2:15 a.m. Dec. 7, 2018, for a reported erratic driver in the area of Meridian and Benbrook roads.
Police spotted a red Ford Explorer driven by Hinchberger turn onto Greenwood Drive. Trooper Travis Buckshire activated his emergency lights and then his siren when Hinchberger didn't stop, according to court records.
Police were able to stop Hinchberger by crashing into her car to get it to stop.
Hinchberger's vehicle went off the road and struck a utility pole on the passenger side, police said.
She and her passenger had to be extricated, and both were taken to Butler Memorial Hospital with apparent injuries.
