Three University of Tampa students were arrested on felony drug charges in two separate campus incidents last week.
Justin Kenneth Berding and Joseph Nicholas Devito were arrested Nov. 12 at 1:56 a.m. and each charged with one felony count of possession of cannabis with intent to sell and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The possession charge had an added note of being within 1,000 feet of a school.
Bond for possession was set at $7,500 while bond for paraphernalia was set at $500, totaling bonds of $8,000 each.
According to a Tampa Police report, 54 grams of marijuana packed for individual sale were found in Berding’s and Devito’s Smiley Hall room.
After receiving a call about a strong odor of marijuana, UT security searched Berding’s dresser to find a cloth bag and sandwich bag, both of which contained small individual bags filled with marijuana.
Marijuana was also found hidden under several tea bags in a “policeman cookie jar,” according to the report.
A total of 41 baggies were counted.
In addition, a silver grinder containing marijuana residue was found.
Later the same morning, Tampa police returned to UT to pick up another student found in possession of drugs.
Julian Evan Matkins was arrested at 4:51 a.m. and charged with one felony count of possession of cocaine.
His bond was set at $2,000.
According to a Tampa police report, UT security searched Matkins’ Brevard room after an individual across the hall stated Matkins had cocaine.
A search of Matkins’ wallet revealed one-half gram of cocaine.
Matkins later told police he obtained the drugs earlier that morning at the Drunken Monkey bar (formerly known as the Study Hall) from someone named “Low.”
All three students have been released from jail on surety bond.
