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Passenger in drug bust gets probation
New Gavel

DARLINGTON — A passenger in a Darlington traffic stop drug bust earlier this year has been sentenced, with her co-defendants’ cases still pending.

Melissa A. Carroll, 34, Lancaster, pleaded no contest Aug. 5 to felony charges of possessing methamphetamine paraphernalia and possessing marijuana with intent to deliver and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed knife, all as a party to a crime. Related similar charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

She was sentenced to two years in prison, three years on extended supervision and a concurrent nine months in jail, with the sentence imposed and stayed, and three years on probation.

Conditions of her probation include following through with any recommended drug treatment. She owes $1,479 in court assessments.

The case stems from a Jan. 24 traffic stop for loud exhaust on West River Street in Darlington. The traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle. Court records indicate police found five pocket knives and two pseudoephedrine pills in Carroll’s purse and a straw with amphetamine and cocaine residue in her possession.

The search also turned up about four and half ounces of marijuana, a couple grams of hash oil, a butane torch, pipes, needles, baggies and $746 in cash.

Carroll refused to speak with officers or give her name, and other passengers gave officers fake names, according to police reports.

The cases of the other people in the vehicle, Bradley C. Burgess, 22, Brandon A. Loken, 30, and Ashley A. Muehl, 24, all of Platteville, are still pending. All are convicted of similar charges in other counties. Burgess is also convicted of felony substantial battery. Burgess is incarcerated, while Loken and Muehl are under community supervision.