Task force arrests six on drug charges

Six people were arrested by the North Central Narcotics Task Force Thursday on drug charges during a search warrant in the 3700 block of Testolin Road and after a traffic stop near the Old High School.

Diana Merritt-Bagwell, 45, of Fallon, was arrested Thursday night at 3745 Testolin Road on suspicion of child endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of meth with intent to sell. Her total bail amount was set at $83,312.

Kurtis Lee Bagwell, 45, of Fallon, was arrested at the same location for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment. His total bail was set at $18,632.

Sylvia Barbara Fausey, 45, of Fallon, was arrested with Bagwell and Merritt-Bagwell for allegedly being in possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail amount was $8,632.

Sgt. Jaime Brown of the North Central Narcotic Task Force said the arrests were the result of a two-to-three-month investigation.

According to a press release from the task force, the investigation resulted in the seizure of $5,041 in cash, 12 grams of meth with a street value of $1,200, marijuana for personal use and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.

Brown said the amount of drugs found was sizable "for this area."

The search warrant also resulted in child endangerment charges as three small children and a teenager were placed into the care of Child and Family Services in Fallon.

Oscar Orlando Montes-Antoja, 29, of Reno, and Manuel Francisco Martinez, 32, of Fallon, were arrested between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Thursday during a traffic stop near the Old High School for the sale of narcotics (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tasia Marie Porteous, 22, of Fallon, was arrested by the task force at the same location for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

Sara Marie Leef, 26, of Fallon, who was also in the back seat of the car, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Montes-Antoja and Martinez are being held in the Churchill County Jail on $15,000 bail.

Porteous is being held at the jail on two bond amounts - $3,132 for the drug paraphernalia charge and $7,500 for the possession of meth charge.

According to the probable cause booking sheets, officers were granted permission to search the car after the traffic stop.

During the traffic stop, officers observed several plastic baggies between Martinez's legs and a digital scale on the driver's side of the vehicle.

Montes-Antoja had $3,700 in the front pockets of his pants.

Police also found two glass smoking pipes with a white crystallized substance in the back seat where Porteous and Leef were sitting.

According to the PC sheet, Porteous admitted the meth was hers.

Deputy District Attorney Lane Mills said the sale of narcotic charges stem from the fact that probably less than 4 grams of meth was found on Martinez and Montes-Antoja.

The trafficking in a controlled substance charge against Merritt-Bagwell is because she was allegedly found with 4 to 14 grams of meth.

Mills said amounts of more than 4 grams usually result in a charge of trafficking, which carries a sentence of one to six years in prison with probation not being an option.

He said the sale of narcotics charge carries a sentence of one to six years in the Nevada State Prison. Possession of meth carries a penalty of one to four years in prison, though probation is an option.

Child endangerment can be either a felony or misdemeanor, depending on whether the person being charged had full custody. Since Merritt-Bagwell had custody, she is being charged with a felony.

Mills said the suspects' first court date will be either Monday or Tuesday in Justice Court.