Their view: Let’s talk about the ‘kinda racist’ words

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Inmate pleads guilty to hiding lighter in vagina, starting prison fire

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A man facing a homicide trial later this year in the slaying of a homeless man was arraigned Thursday on new drug charges.</p><p>State police at Wyoming allege they found heroin, crack cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, marijuana cigars and packaging materials inside a North Hancock Street residence where Daniel Elias Holtslander was arrested July 7, 2016.</p><p>Holtslander was charged in the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Kurt Swan, whose body was found in a wooded area behind the Mark II Shopping Plaza on June 25, 2016.</p><p>The drugs and paraphernalia were discovered during a search of the house that was connected to the homicide, according to court papers.</p><p>Holtslander&#8217;s trial on an open count of criminal homicide is set for Oct. 22.</p><p>Holtslander claimed he was sleeping in his truck when Swan climbed inside, according to a previous Times Leader story. Holtslander said he &#8220;lashed out&#8221; and stabbed Swan with a pair of knives, not knowing it was Swan, the report stated.</p><p>Holtslander claimed he was friends with Swan.</p><p>Defense attorney John Pike is trying to prevent Holtslander&#8217;s alleged confession from being used during the trial.</p><p>Holtslander has been jailed <ins>at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility </ins>without bail on the homicide charge.</p><p>District Judge Thomas Malloy in Wilkes-Barre arraigned Holtslander on six counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, three counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, and a single count of possession of a small amount of marijuana.</p><p>Malloy set bail on the drug charges at $50,000.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Holtslander </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_holtslander.CMYK_.jpg</photo0><caption0>Holtslander </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Homicide suspect now faces drug trafficking charges