Powers

ROCK CAVE — An Upshur County man faces felony charges after police allegedly found more than two ounces of methamphetamine in his vehicle, and messages involving a “conspiracy” to sell methamphetamine in the county were found on his phone.

Larry West Powers, 67, of Rock Cave, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, both felonies. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond, according to Magistrate Court records.

According to the criminal complaint, prepared by Sgt. Tyler A. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Jan. 16, Gordon observed a flatbed pickup truck traveling north on Rt. 20 South Road in Rock Cave.

The vehicle’s brake lights appeared to be malfunctioning, the complaint states. The driver also appeared to be behaving strangely, with Gordon noticing the vehicle repeatedly switching between its left and right turn signals while at a stop.

Gordon initiated a traffic stop, with the vehicle pulling off the road to the left instead of the right, leaving Gordon to have to stop his patrol vehicle “partially in the southbound lane,” the complaint states. Gordon writes that this action, paired with the unusual turn signals, implied possible impaired driving.

The driver was identified as Powers, the complaint states. Gordon wrote that he immediately smelled the odor of “burnt marijuana” coming from inside the cab of the truck. After peering into the cab of the truck, Gordon saw a ziplock baggie that appeared to have “white residue” in it next to Powers’ leg. When Gordon asked what was in the baggie, Powers allegedly said, “I don’t know” and attempted to conceal it from view.

Gordon then ordered Powers to hand him the bag, and when Powers did, Gordon observed approximately two grams of suspected methamphetamine inside, the complaint states. A further search of the vehicle revealed a gray plastic bag that contained approximately two ounces, or 56 grams, of suspected methamphetamine, on the driver’s seat where Powers had been sitting. A blue digital scale was also found in the vehicle.

After advising Powers of his Miranda rights, Powers allegedly admitted to purchasing the suspected methamphetamine and selling several “eight balls,” an eighth of an ounce or 3.54 grams, to recoup his money.

Powers allegedly consented to Gordon searching through his cell phone, which reportedly revealed “numerous large purchases” of methamphetamine over the past several months. Messages also reportedly revealed that Powers was allegedly conspiring with multiple individuals in Upshur County to sell methamphetamine for money.