BUCKHNANNON – An Upshur County man who sheriff’s deputies reportedly found passed out in a vehicle at Fast Stop Food Mart was arrested on three drug-related charges Thursday.
Ethan Lantz, 22, of Buckhannon, was arrested Aug. 5 for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession with intent to deliver heroin and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, all felonies.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Sgt. Rodney Rolenson with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Aug. 5, Rolenson was notified of an individual passed out at the Fast Stop Food Mart on Vicksburg Road in a black Chevy Tahoe. Upon arrival, Rolenson and Upshur County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mike Coffman saw a man slumped over in the driver’s seat of a black Chevy Tahoe.
The officers also spotted a zip-top bag in the center cup holder in plain view, which was allegedly used to store drugs, the complaint says. According to the report, Lantz was difficult to awaken and appeared to be under the influence. Lantz emptied his pockets, and officers discovered that he had allegedly been carrying a scale in his left front pocket, along with “straws used for snorting drugs,” the file says.
While obtaining his driver’s license from his pocket, Rolenson noticed more bags in Lantz’s wallet containing heroin and methamphetamine, the report states. According to the file, deputies found methamphetamine in Lantz’s cigarette pack and in his front pocket. In addition, a pint of marijuana was allegedly found in the seat beside Lantz.
Bail was set at $130,000 cash or surety by Upshur County Magistrate Alan Suder, and Lantz remained incarcerated in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail as of Friday evening, according to the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority’s website.
The penalty for possession with intent to deliver marijuana is confinement in a state correctional facility for one to five years, a fine of up to $15,000 or both, while the penalty for possession to deliver heroin is imprisonment in that state penitentiary for one to 15 years, a fine of up to $25,000 or both. The penalty for possession with intent to deliver meth is also confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than one year, nor more than 15 years, a fine of up to $25,000 or both.
