Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office confiscated 216.8 grams of marijuana and $250 in cash during a traffic stop held recently on the Augusta Highway. Pictured with the marijuana and the cash is Sheriff Gerald Lawson. Three Augusta men were arrested on drug charges by deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Saturday, February 19.

According to the incident report, Deputy Scott Harwell and Deputy Jon Barron were in the process of setting up a traffic stop on the Augusta Highway, just north of Plantation Point Road, when a red 1993 GMC Jimmy approached, carrying three individuals. The driver apparently attempted to flee, driving off of the roadway and down an embankment.

A cursory search of the three occupants revealed a plastic bag containing "a moderately large amount" of a substance that field tested positive for marijuana. It was later determined that the marijuana weighed 216.8 grams and had a street value of approximately $800.

The three men were transported to the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center where Jacques Jon Henry Poitra, 19, was charged with one felony count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Stephen Ross McCorkle, 18, was charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana and Anthony Michael Kennelly, 19, was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, having an obstructed or broken windshield, and driving with an expired tag.

Kennelly and McCorkle were both released on cash bonds, with Poitra remaining in custody in the law enforcement center on a $40,000 property bond.

The incident report further noted that while the subjects were being interviewed, deputies learned that "the marijuana was intended to be sold to an unknown youth in Lincoln County and there was more marijuana, cocaine, and scales (apparently for weighing drugs) at Poitra's residence on Sparks Road in Augusta."

After receiving notification from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Phillip Hambrick, a narcotics deputy with Richmond County, entered Poitra's home and recovered a quantity of marijuana and cocaine.

At the time of his arrest in Lincoln County, Poitra was out on bond in Richmond County for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

In his comments, Sheriff Gerald Lawson said, "It is a good day for the sheriff's office and the citizens of Lincoln County when at least one shipment of marijuana, that was intended for our school children, is intercepted and one connection for the illegal substance is taken off of the streets."

The sheriff went on to say, "We will keep up our efforts to stop drugs from coming into the county, and I will continue to work closely with our courts to ensure that the dealers are prosecuted."

Last month, the sheriff's office made a total of 53 arrests, including one for DUI, and worked two burglaries, six thefts, and 14 motor vehicle accidents.