CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield couple has been jailed on felony drug charges for allegedly selling methamphetamine.
Jason L. Merritts, 36, and Joyce L. Merritts, 32, have been charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; criminal conspiracy engaging/manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver; and criminal use of a communication facility (three counts).
The couple waived their rights to preliminary hearings Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. Their bail has been set at $50,000.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Feb. 15, an officer requested a confidential informant to contact Jason Merritts to arrange the purchase of methamphetamine. The next day, the CI related that he/she had spoken with Joyce Merritts, who thought Jason Merritts had an eight ball, plus a few $20 bags to sell.
The CI sent a text message to Jason Merritts and asked him to hold the eight ball for he/she to purchase later that day. Jason Merritts agreed. The officer also asked the CI to check with Jason Merritts about when he would be getting more methamphetamine, and the CI agreed to find out.
Approximately a half-hour later, the CI related that Jason and Joyce Merritts had booked a hotel room the evening before in order to “relax” at the Super 8 in Clearfield.
At 1:30 p.m., officers and the CI conducted a briefing to prepare for the purchase of an eight ball of methamphetamine from the Merritts. An officer then provided the CI with $400 to complete the drug transaction.
At 2:15 p.m., officers traveled with the CI to the hotel and he/she went inside. At approximately 2:42 p.m., he/she returned and turned over a small Ziploc bag containing methamphetamine, which was allegedly purchased from Joyce Merritts.
While they were traveling to a local police station, the CI related that Jason Merritts was not inside the hotel room and had stepped out. However, Joyce Merritts and the couple’s children were there and she handled the drug transaction.
An officer later field tested the suspected methamphetamine, which yielded a positive result. It was later sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory for further analysis.