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A drug bust that took place in September is finally finding its way through the courts.
Valley County sheriff’s deputies got a search warrant for a pickup that was pulled over on Sept. 8 and found marijuana, hashish, drug paraphernalia and oxycodone. The pickup was pulled over after the driver and two passengers returned from a trip to Oregon and Washington to purchase the drugs for distribution. Mark Wagoner of Glasgow, Doug Turner of St. Marie, and Steven Morlock all faced the courts over the incident.
The drugs were bought in Pendleton, Oregon. More than 1 pound of marijuana was in a backpack, along with 36 10 milligram oxycodone pills. The cost for the drugs was allegedly $2,700.
Wagoner was the buyer, while Morlock and Turner would distribute, investigators said. The normal rate of marijuana is $65 for one-eighth of an ounce, which would make the estimated value $8,320. The profit to Wagoner for the drugs would have been around $5,620.
Wagoner will be the last one to see his day in court on June 30 to change his plea. Wagoner recently changed his plea to guilty for criminal possession with the intent to distribute, criminal possession of dangerous drugs – hashish, criminal possession of dangerous drugs – oxycodone, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with witnesses and informants, five felony counts. The recommended plea deal is for five years jail time, all but 30 days suspended and a $1,000 fine for the first charge. The second charge would be three years jail, with a $1,000 fine, consecutive with the first charge. Valley County Sheriff Glen Meier added that the pickup will go through the forfeiture process.
Morlock changed his plea on June 10 and his sentencing will take place on Aug. 4. He is charged with conspiracy to commit criminal possession with the intent to distribute – marijuana, and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. His recommended punishment is three years in jail, with all but 20 days suspended and $1,000 fine, with the second charge to run consecutive with the first. The maximum could be up to 20 years in prison, with a $50,000 fine.
Turner cooperated and saw his day in court on April 15. He was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal possession with the intent to distribute and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. The second charge was dismissed per the plea agreement, under which he was given a deferred sentence of three years, 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
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