A man stopped in a car with guns and the alleged makings of a meth lab knew nothing about either, he insisted at his detention hearing.
Timothy Collins and his girlfriend, both residents of Downington, Pa., were only in Timothy Kurkierewicz's car for three blocks when Atlantic City police pulled them over last week, attorney Michael Schreiber said.
Collins, 34, said he did have a drug issue in the past, but that he has been clean for two years and two months.
"I’ve admitted to everything I’ve ever done," he told. "I’m fighting this. I didn’t do this nonsense."
The decorated Army veteran has completed several programs as a result of his past issues, his attorney said, noting that Collins earned a Purple Heart for his service in Afghanistan.
Kurkierewicz, his girlfriend and Collins' girlfriend, Juliya Hess, were in the car when it was pulled over in Atlantic City, after an officer allegedly saw someone inside making a drug deal.
The illegal items were reportedly found in the rear passenger area of the car, according to information given in court.
The other three co-defendants were released Wednesday, following their detention hearings.
But Collins' public safety assessment, which helps determine whether a defendant is released under bail reform, recommended he be held.
That was based upon Collins' prior issues, which Schreiber said have been addressed.
Collins also was worried about what would happen to his service dog if he remained jailed.
"I think we owe him some consideration for what he’s done for this country," Schreiber said. "I don’t think he’s a threat to society."
Superior Court Judge Sara Beth Johnson decided to release Collins, with conditions that include continuing mental heath and drug treatment through the Veterans Administration.
He also cannot have contact with the co-defendants, including his girlfriend who lives across the street from him.
"We already decided we would do whatever we have to to get through this," Collins told the judge when asked if he could avoid contact with Hess. "I can wait. That's my soulmate."
Collins was released Thursday.
