Theodore Edward Coontz, Methamphetamine Possession, West Virginia 2020

Belington Man Faces Prison Time for Methamphetamine Charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Barbour County man has admitted to a methamphetamine charge, marking a significant blow to the region’s fight against illicit substances.

Theodore Edward Coontz, 47, of Belington, West Virginia, pleaded guilty today to one count of ‘Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.’

According to prosecutors, Coontz possessed methamphetamine in August 2020 in Barbour County. The exact date of the crime is unclear, but the plea agreement stipulates that the offense occurred in August 2020.

The plea agreement also requires Coontz to forfeit a significant amount of property, including two pistols, a revolver, a shotgun, a rifle, ammunition, and $1,538 in cash found during a traffic stop and a subsequent search of his home.

Coontz faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher L. Bauer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police investigated the case.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Aloi presided over the case, accepting Coontz’s guilty plea.

The case is a stark reminder of the ongoing issue of methamphetamine distribution in West Virginia. As the region continues to grapple with the consequences of illicit substance use, it is essential that those responsible for perpetuating this problem are held accountable.

Theodore Edward Coontz: A 47-year-old man from Belington, West Virginia.

Crime: Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Location: Barbour County, West Virginia.

Date: August 2020.

Sentence: Faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Fine: $1,000,000.

Cash Seized: $1,538.

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