(file photos)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Muskogee man and his girlfriend from Wagoner, who were traveling in a 2008 Chevrolet Cruz when they were arrested, have been ordered held in the Payne County Jail on $100,000 bail each on charges of trafficking $15,000 worth of methamphetamine that was allegedly mailed for delivery in Stillwater.
The driver, Dillon Ray Stienbarger, 24, and his passenger, Mary Irene Sensibaugh, 35, who was sitting in the back seat by herself, could each be given prison terms from two years to life plus a fine of $50,000 to $500,000 if convicted of aggravated drug trafficking, according to the charges filed last week.
The couple were arrested following a traffic stop on E. 6th Street at about 6 pm on May 11 in which 5.9 pounds or 2,678 grams of methamphetamine was seized, Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson alleged in an affidavit.
“The street value of such a large amount of methamphetamine is approximately $15,000. This size load of methamphetamine is uncommon in Stillwater,” the affidavit alleged.
“Dillon stated he was mailed the methamphetamine and told to deliver it in Stillwater. Dillon stated he was moving the methamphetamine for a person he believed lived in Mexico. Dillon said he was going to make $2,200 for the delivery.
“Dillon said he tried to move illegal immigrants for the same individual in Mexico and was arrested last week in Arizona trying to cross the border with a stolen car,” the affidavit alleged.
His girlfriend said “she has been dating Dillon for four months. Mary stated she knew Dillon was ‘working’ for a person in Mexico and was recently arrested in Arizona. Mary stated she thought they were delivering cocaine to Stillwater,” the affidavit alleged.
The methamphetamine was discovered after Stillwater Police Detective Newly McSpadden said his K9 partner alerted to the presence of illegal drugs in the vehicle, which had a defective right brake light, the affidavit alleged.
“In the front passenger floorboard, I observed a box that was taped shut. I opened the box and found a plastic container wrapped in plastic wrap,” coated in axle grease, Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
“I know this is a common way drug traffickers attempt to conceal illegal drugs and avoid detection from police officers and their K9 partners. The axle grease is used to conceal the smell of illegal drugs. I opened the wrap and observed large crystal shards in the plastic container and immediately recognized the substance as methamphetamine,” Detective Carson alleged in his affidavit.
A smaller amount of methamphetamine was found in a handbag in the back seat; several cell phones and a plastic baggy were also located in the vehicle, the affidavit alleged.
