Warrant arrest leads to drug seizure

WASILLA — A Palmer woman faces drug charges after an arrest on an outstanding warrant, authorities said.

Candi L. Lefferson, 34, faces eight counts of fourth-degree drug misconduct and two counts of fifth-degree drug misconduct, according to a grand jury indictment filed Friday in Superior Court.

Alaska State Troopers responded to the Alaska Select Inn near the intersection of Seward Meridian and Bogard roads after receiving a tip that Lefferson was “hiding out” there, according to an affidavit written by Alaska State Trooper Joel Miner. After contacting hotel staff about the tip, staff asked troopers to investigate and remove anyone who was found to be violating the law, according to the affidavit.

Troopers located Lefferson and another woman — who was arrested, but apparently not charged in connection with the incident, according to court documents — in a hotel room together with two bongs plainly visible, one for methamphetamine and one for heroin, according to the affidavit.

A search of the room turned up: an additional heroin bong, 1,250 “dime baggies,” some of which were unused, and some of which contained drug residue, two digital scales, nine glass and metal drug pipes, eight bags of tar heroin weighing six grams, two bags of methamphetamine weighing almost 3 grams, a ledger containing a list of names and cash amounts “including ‘money owed’ amount,” and $465 cash, Miner wrote.

They also found 11 bags containing the following prescription drugs: Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication; Diazepam, a seizure and alcohol withdrawal drug; oxycodone hydrochloride, a pain-killer; methadone hydrochloride, an opioid used for treating heroin withdrawal; Clonazepam, an anti-axiety medication; Hydrocodone, a pain-killer; Zolpedim, a sedative; and Carisprodol, a muscle relaxant.

Troopers found an additional gram each of heroin and methamphetamine in a car in Lefferson’s possession at the time of her arrest, according to the affidavit.

Lefferson has a long history with the Alaska court system, though the majority of her contacts are for minor offenses or civil disputes. Her most recent felony arrest was for drugs possession in 2012, when she pleaded guilty to a single count of fourth-degree drugs misconduct and received an 18-month sentence with 15 months suspended, as well as three years’ probation. She also pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree theft in 2008, for which she received a 90-day sentence with 60 days suspended.

Lefferson remained in the Mat-Su Pretrial detention facility Monday afternoon on $10,000 cash and corporate bail with an order she find a suitable third-party custodian as a condition of release. Her first court appearance in the case was set for Monday afternoon.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.