An uncle and his nephew are heading toward trial on felony drug charges following a preliminary hearing Monday.

Isaiah S. Harden, 44, and Jamal D. Harden, 22, both of Butler, appeared before District Judge William Fullerton, each on two counts of felony drug sales, one felony count of criminal conspiracy and misdemeanor counts of drug paraphernalia possession and marijuana possession.

Following the hearing, Fullerton moved forward all charges against the men and maintained their bond at $100,000 each, which has kept them in Butler County Prison since their arrest following a June 27 bust at a Fourth Avenue Home in Butler.

Butler City Police Officer Miles Bizub, who also serves on the Butler County Drug Task Force, provided the sole testimony for the proceeding.

He said the department received a complaint about possible drug activity outside the home, where authorities would later find about three bricks of heroin, almost two ounces of crack cocaine and multiple packages of marijuana.

Bizub said the anonymous tip claimed to witness men meeting with vehicles on the street, conducting some type of transaction and then reentering the home.

“There are several vehicles a day doing this, and they’re only there for a minute,” said Bizub, citing the report he received.

Bizub said three controlled buys took place in this fashion, and when the pair was arrested, they were found with money from the latest controlled buy, which happened earlier that day.

Bizub said most of the drugs were found hidden in an Arizona Tea can, which was found in the back of a couch on the first floor, the same floor where both men were found during the search.

Public defender Michael McFarland, on behalf of Isaiah Harden, and attorney Joseph Scioscia III, on behalf of Jamal Harden, later took issue with their clients’ ties to the drugs found in the home.

Both attorneys pointed out that Harden was not found with drugs or paraphernalia after searches of their clothing and bodies, and they claimed the prosecution failed to establish whether their clients were living in the home.

“There’s no compelling evidence that Mr. Isaiah Harden lives at this address,” McFarland said.

Scioscia further added that there wasn’t enough detail from the controlled buys. At times during his testimony, Bizub struggled to recall specific dates, times and amounts related to the controlled buys, which prompted him to consult documents he had in court.

“There was some observation, but there was no testimony confirming those observations were drug transactions,” Scioscia said.

Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon countered both in turn.

“Much ado has been made about them living there,” Simon said. “They’ve been charged with dealing there, not living there.”

Simon said the nature of the controlled buys, which were done with confidential information, should be inferred based on past and typical protocols.

“We don’t send (confidential informants) for social visits,” Simon said.

Both men are scheduled to appear next for formal arraignment in Butler County Common Pleas Court.