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Randolph man facing felony charge

Cool

ELKINS — A Randolph County man is behind bars after allegedly driving without a valid drivers license and being found in possession of drugs.

Gary Duane Cool, 34, of Monterville, is charged with one felony count of driving revoked for DUI, third offense. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate Ben Shepler.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, at approximately 11:05 p.m. on March 16, Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy E.B. Carr was conducting road patrol along Becky’s Creek Road near Huttonsville.

At that time, he observed a red 1995 Pontiac Firebird continue through a posted stop sign without stopping, police said. Carr stopped the vehicle, identified the driver as Cool and ran his information through Randolph County E-911 which returned as revoked for unpaid citations.

Both Cool and a female passenger in the vehicle both gave deputies consent to search the vehicle, the complaint states.

Located in the vehicle was a zipped black pouch containing a clear vial containing a piece of white pill and a crystal-like substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine; a Ziploc bag containing five white pills inscribed “54 411” identified as Suboxone; and one red “snort tube” with residue, according to the complaint. Also, inside a purse belonging to the female passenger, officers found two half pills identified as Suboxone without a valid prescription.

Carr later discovered, through a criminal history report, that Cool had a conviction for driving while license revoked for DUI, second offense on Jan. 29, 2013, through Randolph County Magistrate Court and a conviction for driving while license revoked for DUI, third offense on Oct. 7, 2014, through Randolph County Circuit Court. Cool also has an active DUI with an effective date of June 23, 2004, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Cool could be sentenced to not less than one nor more than three years in the state penitentiary and fined not less than $3,000 nor more than $5,000.

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