SALEM — A small amount of heroin is leading to some big trouble for a Peabody man.
That's because Edward Vidinha, 33, already has a 10-page criminal record that includes prior convictions for heroin possession, police say.
Now, he's facing at least 21รขÑ2 years in jail if convicted on charges of subsequent offense heroin possession, brought after his arrest Monday evening on Chase Street.
Vidinha, of 90 Washington St., Peabody, pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment yesterday in Salem District Court, where he was ordered held on $7,500 cash bail.
Salem Patrolmen Brian St. Pierre and Kristian Hanson were patrolling in the city's Point neighborhood when they spotted Vidinha, whom they recognized, and a second man engage in what looked like a drug transaction, Salem police Lt. Conrad Prosniewski said.
When Vidinha spotted the officers, police said he threw a small bag onto the ground.
Vidinha denied that the "twist" of heroin near his feet belonged to him, but the patrolmen found several hypodermic syringes and a burned bottle cap, commonly used to "cook" heroin into injectable form, on the suspect, the police prosecutor said.
Prosniewski told a judge that Vidinha has been arrested 33 times on a total of 111 charges and has gone to jail 25 times. He's currently in default in a Peabody case, as well.
Vidinha's attorney, Gail Nastasia, questioned the strength of the case against her client, however, and said the heroin was not his.
Vidinha is due back in court next month.
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