By Eric Parry
Staff writer
Fri, May 16 2008 LONDONDERRY — A Gillette Road man, described by federal law enforcement officials as an Oxycontin dealer, was arraigned on four felony drug charges this week. William Johnson was released on personal recognizance, following his appearance in Derry District Court on Wednesday. Police found about 112 pills of methadone, Oxycontin, hydrocodone acetaminophen and suboxone, and a bundle of cocaine while searching Johnson's 9 Gillette Road home during a 14-hour search last week. Det. Adam Dyer of the Londonderry Police Department was contacted last month by an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency and another unidentified agency who informed the local police of possible illegal activity at Johnson's house. The DEA agent told Dyer that Johnson was known in the area as a Oxycontin dealer who gets his supply from individuals in Boston. Johnson was also known as a dangerous man with a criminal history, according to a police affidavit. Londonderry Police set up three drug purchases from Johnson using a confidential informant wearing a body wire. On two occasions the informant was able to purchase almost $200 worth of Oxycontin but Johnson was out of product on the third attempt, according to the affidavit. Johnson is facing three counts of possession with the intent to distribute and one count of possession of a controlled drug. Three digital scales and a large trash bag filled with smaller plastic zip lock bags were also found during the search, according to the affidavit. While police were searching his home last week, Johnson admitted he had a prescription for Oxycontin but not for the other drugs in his bedroom. There were two individuals home at the time that were cooperative with police but no other arrests have been made. Police also found gambling paraphernalia and construction tools they believe may be stolen. Those items include generators, nail guns, power tools and snowblowers. Capt. William Hart said yesterday an investigation into whether those tools are stolen is still ongoing but police are holding them at the Londonderry Police Station. Hart declined further comment on that case but said the drug case is unrelated to the other items. At court on Wednesday, Hart asked Derry District Court Judge John Coughlin that Johnson be held on $50,000 personal recognizance and $5,000 cash surety bail despite Johnson living in his Gillette Road home for the last 23 years. Coughlin set bail at that mark despite Johnson's attorney, William Hamilton, asking for only $500 cash bail. Hamilton cited his client's long-standing history in the community. He will also have to surrender any firearms and remain on good behavior while he awaits a probable cause hearing on May 19 in Derry District Court. According to the police affidavit, Johnson's arrest record dates back to 1979 when he was arrested in Boston on charges of accomplice and assault with intent to distribute. He was also arrested twice more in Boston, once in 1982 for assault with a deadly weapon and once in 1984 for charges of assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer. DEA intelligence also revealed that Johnson sold marijuana in the early 1990s, according to the affidavit.
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