Chelsea Davis, Ottumwa Courier, Iowa –
OTTUMWA — An ongoing investigation led officers to arrest two Ottumwans on drug charges.
Officers from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southeast Iowa Interagency Drug Task Force and the Ottumwa Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence of Roger Del Rio Macias-Kaharik and Ashley Lynn Dennison, 211 N. Benton St., last week.
As a result of the search, the officers seized more than a pound of high-grade marijuana and additional items consistent with the distribution of marijuana.
“That particular marijuana was valued at approximately $3,000 to $4,000,” said Sgt. Jason Bell with the Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency Drug Task Force. “Then they can subsequently sell it for $50 a gram.”
And with more than 453 grams of marijuana in a pound, it adds up.
“You could potentially make $22,650 just generated from that one pound,” Bell said.
During the course of the investigation, officers were able to determine that Macias-Kaharik had been selling marijuana to a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old, who both attend Ottumwa High School.
“The investigation was ongoing from the time we executed the warrant at the residence and it took some time to interview some of the juveniles involved to see if the charges were warranted,” Bell said.
On Friday, Macias-Kaharik, 20, was arrested and charged with two counts of distribution to persons under age 18, a Class B Felony, which has a penalty mandating at least five years confinement in prison if convicted.
Dennison, 19, was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor.
Bell said Macias-Kaharik is being held at the Wapello County Jail on $25,000 cash-only bond. Dennison has already been released on bond. The two juveniles involved have not been charged at this time.
