More than an ounce of methamphetamine was seized last week, along with cash, drug paraphernalia and illegal prescription narcotics, on the basis of a joint investigation by the Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Community Response Team.
The investigation led to the arrest of two McMinnville residents, identified by Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Ray as Richard Peter Graham, 30, and Stephani Ann Freund, 34.
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Graham was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of delivery, Freund with one count each of possession and delivery. Graham’s counts involve methamphetamine, oxycodone and morphine, Freund’s methamphetamine.
Freund was also cited for violating her post-prison supervision on a prior probation violation. The underlying convictions, from December 2010, were for delivery of a controlled substance/methamphetamine and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Possession is a Class C felony, delivery a Class B felony. Lodged on $500,000 bail each, the pair are slated for arraignment on grand jury indictments at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A probable cause affidavit described the chain of events this way:
A search warrant was authorized for Graham’s Southeast Ford Street apartment. As officers were preparing to serve it, Freund arrived in a vehicle and picked him up.
Officers trailed them. Traffic violations were enough probable cause for them to pull the vehicle over Northeast McDonald Street, near its intersection with 27th Street.
A drug dog was called in and immediately alerted on the vehicle. Drug paraphernalia was located inside and it tested positive for methamphetamine.
The warrant authorized officers to inspect Graham’s cell phone. They discovered a text thread between him and Freund.
The last incoming text from Fruend read, “35 900.” Graham confirmed officers’ suspicions that Freund, whom he identified as his regular supplier, was offering 35 grams of meth for $900.
Graham said he was simply serving as the middleman in the deal. He said Freund, who had $300 on her, along with about 37 grams of meth, offered him $150 for setting it up.
He said they were on their way to complete the deal when they were pulled over. He said she was hiding the drug in her pants.
At the apartment, officers found digital scales, drug packaging material and containers of prescription narcotics in an upstairs bedroom. They also discovered two caches of meth, one weighing 8.15 grams and the other 11 grams.
Graham said he had been trading pills for meth. He said he had been selling meth at the street level for six or seven months.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact deputy Justin Brester at 503-434-7506.
