28-year-old Yan Carols Pichardo Cepeda was arrested last year with a suspected large amount of fentanyl and a kilo of cocaine at the Downtown Pittsburgh Greyhound station.
He was released on non-monetary bail by controversial magistrate Judge Xander Orenstein, even though police considered him a danger to the community and a flight risk
Cepeda didn’t show up for a court hearing, fleeing to New York.
He was caught during a traffic stop in New York City and on Thursday was extradited back to Allegheny County.
Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus joined Marty Griffin on KDKA Radio Friday morning, saying they interviewed Cepeda and learned even he was surprised by Orenstein’s decision.
“He, himself, told us that he was shocked that he was able to walk out of that jail and that that judge let him go and he expected at least a $400,000 bond put on him, which didn’t happen,” said Kraus.
Cepeda also told police once back in New York, he had no intention of coming back to the Pittsburgh area to face the charges.
Cepeda is now in Allegheny County Jail and will not be released on non-monetary bail.
Orenstein was pulled from arraignment hearing last week by Judge Susan Evashavik DiLucente.
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