
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Cushing man, who was a front-seat passenger in a vehicle that a narcotics dog indicated should be searched for drugs in Stillwater, has been given a 12-year prison term for trafficking 74.96 grams of methamphetamine.
Joshua David Phelps, 42, pleaded guilty to the drug charge after a count of being a felon in possession of a pistol was dropped against him last week, court records show.
Phelps was advised by Associate District Judge Michael Kulling that the balance of his prison term would be suspended on his completion of a drug treatment program. Phelps was also ordered to comply with the methamphetamine registry.
The driver, Jason Robert Pierce, 44, remains free on $75,000 bail pending an Aug. 7 court appearance at which his preliminary hearing could be set on drug and gun charges, court records show.
The pair were arrested following a traffic stop at Virginia and Jardot at 5:15 pm on March 1 shortly after Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson was contacted by an informant regarding “an enormous amount of drug activity” in the 2800 block of E. Raintree, according to his affidavit.
“The caller stated they witnessed hand to hand drug deals outside and vehicle and foot traffic coming and going at all hours of the day and night. The caller stated they just witnessed a silver Chevrolet 1500 come and go from the area and believed it was involved in drug activity,” the affidavit alleged.
“I informed Jason I stopped him for speeding and for an illegal lane change. Jason told me he drove from Cushing to Stillwater to get something to eat. I confirmed with Jason they hadn’t been anywhere else before they were stopped. I had just observed Jason leaving the trailer park from Raintree,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
“While speaking with Jason, Detective Moore verbally indicated to me he observed Joshua Phelps making furtive movements toward the center console. While speaking with Jason, he told me he had a pistol in his truck,” which was subsequently searched after Detective McSpadden’s K9 partner alerted to the odor of drugs in the truck, Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“I began a search of the vehicle and located packaging material, a set of digital sales with crystal residue on them, and two loaded syringes in the center console. A loaded 9 mm pistol was located in a holster between the driver’s seat and center console. Inside the glove compartment, a large amount of crystal substance that appeared to be methamphetamine, more packaging material and digital scales were found,” Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“During a search incident to arrest, I located a large sum of U.S. currency on Joshua. The currency was in different denominations and consistent with currency I have observed being used for selling drugs, often referred to as a ‘dealer wad,’ Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“In total, 74.96 grams of methamphetamine, 14 hydrocodone pills, 16 diazepam pills, .65 grams of cocaine and 13 alprazolam pills were located along with $717,” the affidavit alleged.
In a jail interview with the driver the next day, “Jason told me he took Joshua to a house on Raintree, but he did not know why. Jason stated he gets his methamphetamine from Joshua but did not know how the methamphetamine got into his vehicle. I concluded the interview because it was very apparent Jason was being deceitful. I gave Joshua the opportunity to speak with me, he advised he wanted to speak with a lawyer. Joshua was not interviewed,” Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
Joshua Phelps had been placed on 10 years of probation in August of 2021 for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Payne County, state Department of Corrections records show. The balance of that sentence was revoked last week by the judge to run concurrently with his new sentence. Phelps had also been placed on probation last November for one year, nine months and four days for drug possession in Lincoln County in 2020, DOC records show.