Photo Illustration

Two people have been arrested on felony drug charges by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Mark Warden reported Tuesday that a traffic stop was conducted Monday evening near the intersection of State Route 821 and the Interstate I77 SB off-ramp in Muskingum Township for speed and marked lanes violation.

The vehicle, a Porsche bearing West Virginia registration, was operated by John Michael Decker, 509 Buckeye St., Parkersburg. The front seat passenger was identified as Holly Nicole Neader, 836 Fourth St., Marietta.

During the traffic stop, the deputy was assisted by other deputies, including K9 Timmy, who was deployed to conduct a free air sniff of the vehicle. K9 Timmy indicated on the driver’s side of the vehicle, according to a press release from Warden.

Officers then requested Neader and Decker exit the vehicle. Both complied and consented to a pat-down search. No contraband was located on Decker. During the pat-down of Neader, two dollar bills were concealed in her groin area, each containing methamphetamine.

The search continued to the vehicle and located two printers (boxed). The boxes appeared to have tampered tape. Upon inspection, deputies discovered approximately one pound of methamphetamine was concealed in each printer, totaling two pounds of methamphetamine.

Neader and Decker were advised of their Miranda Rights. Decker advised he travelled to the Akron area to obtain the methamphetamine, as well as paying Neader to be a licensed driver for the trip. Neader admitted knowledge of the purpose for the trip being to pick up drugs.

Neader, 43, was placed under arrest and charged with complicity to trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony.

Decker, 29, was placed under arrest and charged with trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs, both first-degree felonies.

Both subjects appeared in Marietta Municipal Court on Tuesday for their initial court hearing. Neader was being held on $200,000 plus personal recognizance bond, and Decker was being held on $750,000 plus PR bond.