A Washington Court House man was charged after he allegedly sold drugs in the front yard of a house as police officers drove past.
Michael W. Wheeler was indicted Feb. 3 by a Fayette County grand jury for aggravated trafficking of drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. He appeared for a final pre-trial Monday in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas to tell the court that he needed medical treatment for an injury allegedly unrelated to the crime he committed.
Judge Steven Beathard told Wheeler in court that the case would not be postponed and that Wheeler, 57, can receive the medical treatment that he needs while in prison. Wheeler is facing up to a year-and-a-half in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Wheeler is facing a jury trial on the matter, and unless he comes into some sort of agreement with the state, will appear for trial June 7.
The offense allegedly occurred Jan. 6 when an officer and a detective with the Washington C.H. Police Department were driving in a police cruiser down North Main Street.
As the officers passed the house, they allegedly saw Wheeler make a drug transaction with a man who was sitting in front of the house in a black Pontiac.
Upon seeing the transaction, one of the officers remarked, “They just did a drug deal right in front of us,” according to reports. The officers turned around as the black Pontiac left the house and made a traffic stop. The driver was identified as David Wood, Sr.
When the officers asked Wood for the drugs he had just bought from Wheeler, Wood allegedly reached into his coat and handed the officer a blue bundle marked “10 ice.”
“Ice” is the crystal-like substance known as methamphetamine. According to reports, it was $10 worth of methamphetamine inside the blue bundle.
Wood was charged with possession and taken to the jail, and charges were pending for Wheeler upon the filing of the report.
Wood plead guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree, Monday. He will be sentenced July 24.
The house in the 300 block of North Main Street was a known drug house, according to police.
