An Atlantic County man was ordered detained Wednesday on charges he sold cocaine to an undercover officer multiple times at an Atlantic City casino
Mikal Roe, 25, is accused of bringing his 1-year-old son with him to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino four of those times, all after he was released following a drug arrest by Atlantic City police.
Roe was the subject of an investigation by State Police from April 2 to Aug. 1, Deputy Attorney General Rachelle Armbruster told the court.
Eight sales were made to the undercover, each more than a half-ounce of cocaine, which already has been confirmed by lab testing, she said.
The total was more than five ounces, Armbruster said.
Roe now faces about a dozen first- and second-degree charges and about 10 more third-degree.
Audio and video recordings were made of the sales, according to the record.
Roe's attorney argued for his release, noting that he has only one disorderly persons from 2021, and could be a candidate for drug court.
While Roe does have a "significant juvenile record," according to the state, Durann Neil noted his client's only adult interaction with the criminal system was a 2021 disorderly persons case.
The defense attorney also indicated there were "legal issues" that he and Armbruster need to discuss that he believes will lead to the dismissal of the first-degree charges. He did not detail what those issues may be.
Armbruster noted that, in the midst of the State Police investigation, Roe was arrested by Atlantic City police June 6 for a similar drug issue, and released on a summons.
"He nevertheless engaged in the exact same distribution conduct with four subsequent hand-to-hand transactions in excess of one-half ounce of cocaine," Armbruster said. "In all four, he brought with him his 1-year-old son."
The judge agreed that the summons release gave Roe "an opportunity to stay on the street and go straight."
Instead, she said, he continued and "brought a 1-year-old child to the sales location."
The judge noted that Roe left the boy in the car, "but he brought a 1-year-old child to the sales location, which is concerning to the court."
Roe will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility as his case goes through the court.
