Upshur woman arrested after K-9 unit allegedly finds drugs — including fentanyl — in her vehicle

Monica Zalaznik
August 1, 2023

BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County woman was arrested last week after officers allegedly found methamphetamine, marijuana and fentanyl in her vehicle during a traffic stop.

Jessicanna Bennett, 41, of Buckhannon, was arrested Thursday, July 27, for possession with intent to deliver, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Upshur County Sheriff’s Deputy Dakota Linger on May 21, 2023, Sheriff Mike Coffman initiated a traffic stop at Wendling’s Plaza on a red 1999 Jeep Cherokee.

Coffman told Linger he had identified the driver as Bennett and knew she had a suspended driver’s license; the sheriff said there had been a warrant issued for her arrest for no operator’s license.

Upon making the traffic stop, Coffman also noticed the license plate was being obstructed by a chain frame. When Linger arrived on scene at 1:56 p.m. and spoke to Bennett, Bennett allegedly told law enforcement officers she had methamphetamine in the vehicle, according to the report.

The sheriff then called for K-9 Unit Cpl. Tyler Chidester and his partner, AJ.

Officers ordered Bennett and her passengers to exit the vehicle, and when Chidester arrived on scene with the K-9 Officer AJ, the dog indicated the presence of controlled substances on the driver’s side door, the file states.

Deputies and the other assisting units searched the vehicle and allegedly found the following items: multiple bags of methamphetamine, two bags of fentanyl, two bags of marijuana, two marijuana pipes, a wooden container with marijuana inside, a red marijuana grinder, one methamphetamine pipe, Narcan, multiple plastic bags, a black Samsung cellphone and a red cloth pouch containing $147 dollars and some odd change.

West Virginia State Police Trooper P.J. Robinette arrested Bennett on the outstanding warrant and transported her to Tygart Valley Regional Jail. After further investigation, Linger weighed the meth at the sheriff’s office, which amounted to approximately 78 grams, not including the fentanyl, according to the report.

Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder set bail at $50,000 cash only.

The penalty for a conviction of possession with intent to deliver is imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than three to 15 years, a fine of up to $50,000 or both.