BUCKHANNON – A Volga man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly taking a vehicle without permission and being in possession of methamphetamine.
Colten Lester, 32, of Volga, W.Va., was arrested Saturday, Aug. 22 for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a felony; driving while license revoked for DUI, first offense, a misdemeanor; and unlawful taking of vehicle, also a misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Deputy Cole Bender with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, on Aug. 22, 2020, Bender and Cpl. Tyler Gordon received a call from the Upshur County E911 Comm Center regarding an illegal driver.
Gordon spoke with the caller, who stated, “he took it again,” a reference to Lester allegedly taking the caller’s vehicle, a 2012 silver Ford Escape; the caller also informed Gordon she believed Lester’s license was not valid.
According to the report, Bender reportedly knew from a previous encounter with Lester that Lester’s license was revoked for DUI effective Sept. 1, 2017. Bender was additionally aware of two active warrants issued for Lester for driving revoked DUI first offense and unlawful taking of a vehicle.
Over the course of their Aug. 22 investigation, Bender and Gordon witnessed Lester driving the vehicle in question northbound on Route 20 North. Buckhannon. According to the report, Bender and Gordon saw the vehicle turn right on Teter Road, and then Gordon initiated a traffic stop at the beginning of Teter Road.
Gordon approached the driver side of the vehicle and arrested Lester, who was driving the vehicle. Upon searching Lester’s person, Gordon allegedly located $306 in Lester’s pocket, which was later given to the victim per Lester’s request, and one LG smartphone.
Gordon asked Lester if there were drugs in the car and he indicated there were. Upon searching the vehicle, Gordon found a bag in the passenger seat, behind the passenger, and Lester confirmed the bag was his. The file says the bag allegedly contained one small plastic sealed bag containing 0.68 grams of suspected methamphetamine, one small plastic sealed bag containing 4.17 grams of suspected methamphetamine, one small digital scale, one white iPhone C and one large plastic bag containing several smaller bags often used in the packaging and delivery of controlled substances.
The complaint says Gordon also located an iPhone SE in a black case on the driver’s side of the vehicle, and upon a secondary search of Lester, Bender located a small flash drive in Lester’s pocket.
Bail was set at $55,000.
The possible penalty for a conviction of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine, is imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine of not more than $15,000 or both. The possible penalty for a conviction of driving while license revoked for DUI, first offense, is confinement in jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months and a fine of ranging from $100 to $500.
Finally, the possible penalty for a conviction of unlawful taking of vehicle is confinement for up to six months in jail, a fine of not more than $500 or both.
