Bail set at 20K for Sch'dy man charged in 2-pound pot bust

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A man arrested last week on charges of having 2 pounds of marijuana and a stun gun was ordered held this morning on $20,000 bond.

Nestor L. Torres, 40, of 1060 Helderberg Ave., appeared in Schenectady County Court this morning with attorney Steve Kouray, asking that bail be set.

Kouray argued that Torres has ties to the community, he works as a contractor and has three children.

Prosecutor Peter Willis, however, argued that there was $60,000 in cash seized in the raid, as well as several items that may turn out to be stolen property. Willis argued that Torres was a flight risk.

Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Richard Giardino set bail at $20,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

Torres has been in jail since his arrest Thursday following a state police CNET raid on the home he owns on Helderberg Avenue.

Police allegedly found two pounds of marijuana, a stun gun and illegal fireworks.

Torres was charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. Investigators believe Torres was selling drugs out of the residence. The 2 pounds of marijuana was packaged for sale, officials have said.

The raid was part of a larger investigation that has been going on for about three months into a midlevel organization based in Schenectady and Rotterdam, state police said.

Torres was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, related to the stun gun. He was also charged with violation unlawfully dealing with fireworks, accused of possessing a large coil of fireworks at his residence.

Edward J. Berg, 22, who also lived at the address, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor weapons possession, related to the stun gun and an illegal collapsible baton.

A third person was also arrested.