2 Accused of Having ‘Date Rape’ Drug

Two men arrested in Canoga Park for allegedly possessing three gallons of a “date rape” drug similar to Rohypnol were arraigned Friday in Los Angeles Municipal Court on drug-related charges.

Daniel Arthur Mead of Canoga Park and Scott Catalfamo of Topanga Canyon, who were arrested Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to charges of manufacturing a controlled substance other than PCP and possessing a controlled substance with intentions of selling the drug.

The men remained in custody Friday evening in lieu of $2-million bail each, authorities said.

Santa Monica police, who were investigating the pair, allegedly found three gallons of GHB, a liquid and synthetic drug described as having effects similar to the “date rape” drug Rohypnol, in their possession.

In addition to the drug counts, Catalfamo, 25, was charged with one felony count of assaulting a police officer during the arrest.

Mead, 38, produces sexually explicit entertainment and Catalfamo is his co-worker, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The two men are scheduled to appear Sept. 2 for a preliminary hearing.

The federal government has warned that GHB, a popular party drug often promoted to teenagers over the Internet as an aphrodisiac or an easy high, can be deadly.

The chemical was banned in this country in 1991, but in recent years the drug has experienced a resurgence as a date-rape drug that, when slipped into a beverage, can render the drinker helpless.