Two men deny heroin charges

BRATTLEBORO — Two men pleaded innocent at criminal court in Brattleboro on Thursday for allegedly distributing heroin in the greater Brattleboro area.

Joshua Hartwell, 25, of Brattleboro and Julio Davila, 32, of Holyoke, Mass. were subjects of a three-month investigation by the Vermont Drug Task Force, according to Matt Birmingham of the Narcotics Investigation Unit said. Hartwell and Davila were arrested on Wednesday during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Dummerston.

Hartwell and Davila were each charged with selling, trafficking and possession of heroin. Hartwell is being held on $10,000 bail and Davila $100,000 because of an active arrest warrant for unrelated charges, a criminal court clerk said.

Status conferences for Hartwell and Davila have not been determined. The Windham County State’s Attorney Office is prosecuting this case.