Chesco Jury Convicts On Drug, Gun Charges After West Goshen Bust

WEST CHESTER, PA — A Chester County jury this week found Timothy Shoates, 39, of Bellefonte, guilty of Possession with Intent to Deliver a controlled substance and unlawful Possession of a Firearm in connection with a 2019 incident at the Microtel Inn & Suites in West Goshen.

West Goshen Police reported Shoates and another person had called police to the hotel on Dec. 6, 2019, saying people with guns were following them and were banging on the hotel room door.

Police said the room smelled of marijuana. They reported they asked if they could search the room. Police found 16 bags of marijuana, 75 Ecstacsy pills, and a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an altered serial number, according to reports.

At trial, Shoates claimed the gun and drugs were not his, despite photos and videos that showed him with the items, according to the Chester County District Attorney's report.

District Attorney Deb Ryan praised the good policing in the case.

"The outstanding investigative efforts of the West Goshen Police Department are what led to this dangerous defendant being taken off the streets. At a time when law enforcement is under tremendous scrutiny, Chester County residents should take pride in knowing that good policing and good police officers are part of their community," Ryan said.

Shoates will be sentenced at a later date. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to misdemeanor charges of Making Repairs/Selling Weapons and to Terroristic Threats with Intent to Terrorize. In 2014 Shoates pleaded guilty to felony charges of Aggravated Assault and Receiving Stolen Property, according to court records.

West Goshen Police investigated the case and Assistant District Attorneys Alexis Shaw and Theresa Kapp were the assigned prosecutors. The case was tried before the Hon. Analisa Sondergaard.