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ELKINS -- A Randolph County woman is behind bars after allegedly conspiring with a male individual to distribute drugs.
Teresa Gail Raines, 48, of Monterville, is charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Dec. 13, Elkins Police Department Senior Patrolmen D.T. Sayre and C.G. Boatwright, along with Patrolman D.E. George, conducted a traffic stop on a black Dodge Neon along 11th Street in Elkins after observing the driver of the vehicle run a stop sign.
While stopping the vehicle, officers noticed the driver and passenger making "erratic motions" before coming to a stop, police said. Sayre spoke with the male driver while Boatwright spoke with the female passenger, identified as Raines.
Sayre noticed the male driver had a clear plastic tube containing a white crystal-like substance, consistent with methamphetamine, in his right hand and was attempting to hide it in the sleeve of his jacket, the complaint states. Sayre recovered the container from the driver.
After removing Raines from the vehicle, Boatwright discovered a black bag containing a blue container wrapped in black tape that had a white crystal-like substance, consistent with methamphetamine, inside. The container also had baggies similar to the one possessed by the male driver, according to the police report.
A criminal history check showed the male driver to have a suspended license for unpaid citations, with an effective date of July 13, 2017. There was also an active arrest warrant for Raines through the Randolph County Family Court, court documents indicate.
While Raines was taken into custody, the male driver was issued a citation and released, police said. Officers contacted a wrecker service to take the vehicle as it was improperly registered, was not insured and the male having a suspended license.
During her transport to Tygart Valley Regional Jail, Raines said "Sir, I have something in my pants," and when asked what she had, told police, "Meth and I'm not sure what else (the male) gave me to hide from your guys." Police asked her how much she had and she replied "I'm not sure but I think it's a lot," according to court documents.
After arriving at the jail, a female nurse helped officers secure the suspected methamphetamine, the complaint states. Eleven individually packaged baggies, believed to be methamphetamine, were located in a silver Kayak Grape Snuff can.
Due to the way the substances were packaged, officers obtained an arrest warrant for the male individual for felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to the complaint. The male individual was not listed as being incarcerated on the West Virginia Regional Jail website and it was unclear if he had been taken into custody as of presstime.
If convicted, Raines could be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary, fined not more than $10,000, or both.