Drug defendant denies selling to Buckhalter

The Delaware County man who police said had admitted selling marijuana to two professional athletes took the stand yesterday in his trial and denied the allegation.

Styles N. Beckles, 36, of Clifton Heights, testified that he had told police, "Yes, I know them, but I don't sell them any drugs." He is charged with drug possession and intent to deliver drugs.

In their opening statement, prosecutors said Beckles had been dealing drugs and sold marijuana to, among others, Correll Buckhalter, a Philadelphia Eagle until he signed with the Denver Broncos last month, and Keita Crespina, a former Temple University and Philadelphia Soul football player.

Buckhalter and Crespina have not been charged in this case. Efforts to reach Buckhalter's agent and Crespina for comment were not successful.

Beckles was the subject of a wiretap investigation from December 2005 through February 2006. As a result, police said, they obtained search warrants and seized about 115 glass vials of marijuana from his car and 487 glass vials of marijuana from his home, along with drug paraphernalia and $1,300 in cash.

Beckles was arrested in April in connection with a two-year investigation into a violent drug ring operating in Chester, a probe that resulted in the federal indictment of 34 people.

Beckles denied that the marijuana and drug paraphernalia found in his home and car were his.

Trooper Scott John Miscannon testified yesterday that he had been listening to wiretapped conversations on Beckles' cell phone when Buckhalter called.

Miscannon also said the "CoR" that had been written on an "owe sheet," or ledger, found in Beckles' home stood for Buckhalter.

Deputy District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland asked Miscannon if he was able to conclude what relationship Buckhalter had with the defendant.

"That Styles Beckles was supplying Correll Buckhalter with quantities of marijuana," Miscannon said.

Miscannon also said that he had intercepted "numerous" calls involving Crespina, and that the former athlete also had been purchasing marijuana from Beckles.