WYOMING COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT/Pair facing numerous drug charges in attempt to smuggle narcotics into the jail

Two Town of Eagle residents are facing numerous drug related charges following a joint investigation between the Wyoming County Jail and Road divisions.

On March 12, 2017, Melissa M. Preen, 25, was stopped on Route 19 in the Town of Warsaw for an inspection violation. Preen was found to be driving while her license was suspended from the Town of Castile Court and showed signs of drug use.

Following a roadside investigation and field sobriety testing, Preen was placed under arrest for driving while impaired by drugs. She was transported to the Wyoming County Jail for a breath test, and while being searched by Corrections Officers, Preen was found to be concealing numerous hypodermic needles, drug paraphernalia, cocaine, and heroin on her person in a concealed area.

Preen then submitted to a drug influence evaluation by a certified Drug Recognition Expert and found to be impaired by the use of multiple substances.  During the investigation, it was determined that she was in possession of the narcotics with intent to sell them to Richard Gargula, 36, who was at the time incarcerated in the Wyoming County Jail as an inmate.

Preen was charged with numerous vehicle and traffic violations, the misdemeanors of aggravated unlicensed operation in the third, driving while ability impaired by a drug, driving while ability impaired by the combination of drugs, criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd with intent to sell, a class B felony.

Preen also obtained a charge of introduction of dangerous contraband into a Jail 1st, a class D felony. She was arraigned in the Town of Warsaw Court and remanded on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

On March 19th, Richard Gargula, 33, was charged regarding the Preen incident, with criminal solicitation 4th, for soliciting Preen to commit the felony of criminal possession of a controlled substance 3rd.

At the time of Gargula’s arrest, he was incarcerated within the Wyoming County Jail as an inmate. Gargula’s personal belongings were searched by Wyoming County Jail staff and a narcotic preparation was located within his clothing.

Gargula was additionally charged with introduction of dangerous contraband in the first degree, a class D felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 5th– more than 500mg of cocaine, also a D felony.

Gargula was transported to the Village of Warsaw Court for two arraignments. He was remanded with cash bail set at $1,000 and bond bail set at $2,000 for the solicitation charge and $10,000 cash and $20,000 bond for the felony charges.

Both Preen and Gargula will answer the charges in Town and Village Court at a later date.

Roy A. Newton, 44, of Perry, was arrested and is facing felony drug charges following a traffic stop on Simmons Road in the Town of Perry on March 21, 2017.

Newton was stopped for speeding on Simmons Road near LaGrange Road.  Newton exhibited multiple signs of drug use, and following a poor performance on field sobriety testing Newton was taken into custody.  Newton was found to be in possession of eight Morphine pills, 7.3 grams of concentrated cannabis (a controlled substance otherwise known as “dabbing oil”), and other drug paraphernalia.  The aggregate weight of the concentrated cannabis elevated the drug possession charge to a felony, and Newton was also determined to have possessed the concentrated cannabis with intent to sell it.  Newton was taken to the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office where he underwent a drug influence evaluation by a drug recognition expert, and Newton was found to be impaired by Narcotics and Cannabis.

Newton is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, D Felonies.  Newton was charged with misdemeanor counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, and Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs.  Newton was also cited for two traffic infractions, speed over 55 and illegal window tint.  Newton was arraigned in the Town of Perry Court where bail was set at $5,000.00 cash or $10,000.00 bond.  Newton was scheduled to return to the Town of Perry Court on April 5, 2017 for further proceedings.

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