Two Sandoval residents have been charged with felony drug offenses following a traffic stop in Centralia where one of the new canine units alerted on the dump truck they were traveling.
The driver, 27-year-old Mallory Seals of East Scott, was formally charged in Marion County Court on Tuesday with a Class X charge of possession with intent to deliver 15 to 100 grams of methamphetamine as well as a second charge of possession of the drug. Judge Mark Stedelin set bond at $75,000.
A passenger, 43-year-old Brian Hartnell of Range Road, was charged possession with intent to deliver 5 to 15 grams of methamphetamine, possession of the same amount of meth, and possession of a drug pipe. His bond was also set at $75,000.
State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth in the probable cause statement noted Centralia Police pulled over the truck around five Monday night in the Burger King parking lot because of an earlier traffic violation. Police noted both occupants were moving around the vehicle. After the canine alerted on the vehicle, a search allegedly turned up meth, scales, and a drug pipe. Later while at the Centralia Police Station, Seals was allegedly found trying to hide meth in her pants and bra. Hudspeth noted a baggie taken from her crouch area contained 30 grams of methamphetamine as well as cannabis. Another 3.5 grams was found hidden in the bra.
Hudspeth noted Seals had just been at the courthouse earlier in the day on Monday to discuss possibly being placed on drug court as a sentence on a prior felony theft plea. That sentencing hearing has now been delayed until after her April 13th preliminary hearing on the new drug charges.
Hudspeth sought a high bond for Hartnell based on high lengthy criminal history and the number of cases currently pending against him.
Hudspeth sought a $100,000 bond for both, but the judge settled on $75,000 apiece.
