BUCKHANNON – A Pennsylvania man was arrested on West Virginia Wesleyan’s campus Monday after allegedly being found in possession of marijuana and a firearm.
Shaliek Cox, 18, of Washington, Pa., was arrested for possession of a deadly weapon on school grounds, a felony; transporting marijuana into the state, a felony; and possession with intent to deliver, a felony.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Marshall O’Connor with the Buckhannon Police Department and the Mountain Lakes Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, on Jan. 11, 2021 officers with the Buckhannon Police Department responded to a call for a removal of an unwanted person on West Virginia Wesleyan College’s campus.
While en route, officers were given Cox’s description and were told Cox allegedly had a firearm, but he was claiming it was a BB gun. When O’Connor found Cox, he allegedly detected a strong odor of marijuana on his person and proceeded to search of Cox’s bag. O’Connor found 3.5 grams of marijuana in a “Big Smokey Exotic” bag and approximately .75 grams of marijuana in an opened “SherbMoney” bag, the police report says. Both bags reportedly contained the language “this package contains cannabis, a schedule I controlled substance.”
O’Connor also found 6.2 grams of marijuana in a sandwich bag, along with approximately $1,700 and a set of scales containing a leafy residue, the file alleges.
When O’Connor spoke to Cox, he said his girlfriend brought him to Buckhannon from Washington, Pa. the day before the incident. Upon speaking to his girlfriend, she corroborated Cox’s statement and said the only person he knew was her, and he did not have access to her vehicle. She also said she knew he was “involved with marijuana” but didn’t know he had any when she picked him up and did not want any repercussions from Wesleyan.
Bail was set at $15,000, and as of Tuesday evening, Cox was no longer lodged in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
The penalty for a conviction of possession of a deadly weapon on school grounds is confinement for not less than two years and not more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $5,000 or both. The penalty for a conviction of transporting marijuana into the state is confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than 15 years, a fine of not more than $25,000 or both. Finally, the penalty for a conviction of possession with intent to deliver is confinement in prison for not less than one year and not more than 15 years, a fine of not more than $25,000 or both.
