Kaleb Garde, three others indicted in heroin case
By Steve Myrick
Published: February 5, 2009
An Edgartown Superior Court Grand Jury has handed up indictments totaling 32 counts of heroin trafficking, heroin possession, dealing drugs near a school, and conspiracy to violate drug laws against Kaleb C. Garde, age 26, Roseline J. Gaspar, age 24, Garrett J. Gibson, age 24, and Alexander W. Carlson, age 22.
The secret grand jury met on January 27 at the Dukes County Courthouse. The suspects are to be arraigned in Superior Court on February 24. They faced similar charges when they were arraigned in Edgartown District Court on November 20, 2008.
The grand jury indictments elevate the case to Superior Court where, if convicted, they could be sentenced to state prison. The four Island residents face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and as many as 20 years in state prison, if convicted on the heroin trafficking charge. If convicted of dealing drugs near a school, the suspects face a minimum sentence of 2.5 years, and as many as 15 years of incarceration.
Cape and Islands assistant district attorney Laura Marshard did not seek indictments against Hannah Garde, 22, and her brother Daniel Garde, 19, who were also arrested in this case.
"Looking at the evidence, we felt the indictment was appropriate for these four," said Ms. Marshard.
Hannah Garde still faces charges including intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and dealing drugs near a school, in Edgartown District Court. Her brother Daniel Garde still faces charges including intent to distribute marijuana and possession of heroin.
All six people were arrested on November 18, 2008, after police executed a search warrant at the Garde family home at 139 Spring Street in Vineyard Haven. The home is within 1,000 feet of the Tisbury School, according to police.
During their November arraignment, Ms. Marshard told the court that at the time of his arrest, Kaleb Garde was cutting heroin from large to small quantities with a razor knife. She said police seized 127 grams, or nearly 4.5 ounces, of heroin. They also seized two scales, and more than $40,000 in cash. According to police reports, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Carlson were in the same room at the time of their arrest. Ms. Gaspar was arrested a short time later. Police said she drove up to the home while police were inside, then immediately fled in her car along Pine Street. Police say they later recovered packages of heroin in the area where she was stopped and arrested.
The arrests came after nearly a year of investigation by the Martha's Vineyard Drug Task Force, according to police. All six suspects are free on bail.
