BUCKHANNON – Nine people were arrested over the weekend on drug-related charges at a residence on Cooper Street.
According to several criminal complaints in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Marshall O’Connor with the Buckhannon Police Department, on Friday, June 5, officers with the Mountain Lakes Drug and Violent Crime Unit, the Buckhannon Police Department, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police served a warrant at 12 Cooper Street in Buckhannon.
At the time of service, nine people were detained, all of whom were identified as tenants of the address.
According to the report, officers allegedly located multiple scales with white residue, in addition to multiple unused bags, vials and containers commonly used to package, house and transport controlled substances. Officers also allegedly located multiple small plastic sealable bags containing methamphetamine, one large bag of methamphetamine, multiple bags of marijuana, multiple unidentified pills, one small bag that contained brown powder and one small bag with a dark, almost-black crushed-up rock.
The file says officers found what is believed to be a ledger used to document drug transactions, along with U.S. currency.
According to the file, police obtained statements from witnesses who indicated all nine individuals “are known to make multiple trips away from the house with what appears to be full backpacks.”
“They return shortly with backpacks that appear to be lighter than when they left,” O’Connor wrote in the complaint. “They remain at the residence (12 Cooper Street) for a few minutes then make another trip.”
O’Connor said police had taken statements from witnesses who reportedly told them the “drug traffic … is reported to last all hours of the day and night.”
“The arresting officer also has messages, that were obtained from seized cellphones, that depict some of the detained [people] engaging in conversation involving the sale and distribution of controlled substances,” O’Connor wrote in the file.
The following individuals were arrested for possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance and allegedly violating the anti-organized criminal enterprise act:
- James Perednas, 30, of Buckhannon
- Courtney Carrier, 33, of Buckhannon
- Kayla Miller, 29, of Buckhannon
- David Mayo, 39, of Buckhannon
- Lita Smallwood, 34, of Buckhannon
- Isaiah Edmund, 24, of Buckhannon
- Tiler Marteney, 27, of Buckhannon
- William McCauley, 34, of Buckhannon
- Brandon Scott, 35, of Buckhannon
In a separate and unrelated case, Scott was arrested for daytime burglary for allegedly breaking into the Theta Chi fraternity house and removing a PlayStation and $200 in cash on Thursday, June 4, the file says.
The possible penalty for possession with intent to deliver is confinement for not less than one year nor more than 15 years, a fine of up to $25,000 or both. The possible penalty for conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance is confinement in the penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years or a fine of not more than $10,000.
The possible penalty for violating the anti-organized criminal enterprise act is confinement for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $25,000 or both.
The possible penalty for daytime burglary is confinement in the state correctional facility for not less than one and nor more than 15 years.
