BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested Friday after police allegedly found methamphetamine in his wallet and he reportedly admitted to possessing a license that had been suspended for driving under the influence.
James M. Williams, 48, of Buckhannon, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, a misdemeanor, and driving revoked for DUI third or subsequent offense, a felony.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Natural Resources Police Officer T.R. Collins, on Friday, Sept. 10 at approximately 2:45 p.m., Collins was patrolling Mud Lick Road when he observed Williams using the bathroom beside a blue and white K10 blazer.
After Williams finished using the restroom, Collins asked him what he was doing, and Williams said he had just left the Upshur County Day Report Center and was headed home. Collins asked if he possessed a valid driver’s license, to which Williams reportedly responded no. Then, when asked about the legality of the vehicle, Williams allegedly admitted the license plates on the vehicle did not belong to it. The file says Williams also told police he did not have insurance or an up-to-date motor vehicle inspection sticker for the vehicle.
After a pat-down to ensure officer safety, Collins asked Williams where his driver’s license was, and Williams motioned to his pocket. Collins asked Williams to pull out his wallet, and when he opened it, Collins saw a red bag protruding from the inner pocket, the police report says. Collins asked Williams what it was, and he said he did not know but gave Collins permission to pull it out. When Collins removed the bag, he noticed it contained a clear, crystal-like substance, the file states. Williams allegedly admitted that it was “probably meth” and told police he was caught for driving revoked DUI in July, according to the report.
Williams has two previous convictions for driving revoked for DUI, with dates of May 10, 2005, and Nov. 6, 2007, according to the file. The original DUI offense reportedly occurred July 15, 1993, the report says.
Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis set bail at $15,000 cash or surety, and Williams remained incarcerated in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail as of Monday afternoon.
The penalty for a conviction of simple possession of methamphetamine is confinement in jail for not less than 90 days, nor more than six months; a fine of not more than $1,000; or both a fine and confinement. In addition, the penalty for driving revoked for DUI third or subsequent offense is imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than one year, nor more than three years, and in addition to the mandatory prison sentence, a fine ranging between $3,000 and $5,000.
