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Marcella man taken into custody on felony drug charges

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Felony drug charges have been filed in Stone County Circuit Court against a Marcella man.

According to court info, a group of law enforcement personnel led by the Stone County Sheriff’s Department went for a parole home visit on Feb. 25 to a Marcella residence where Jonathan D. Conway (pictured), 37, was located along with two other people. The authorities also had a search warrant and a parole absconder arrest warrant for Conway. The court record said Conway was currently on parole but had not been reporting as required — plus the arrest affidavit also noted the number of officers sent on the visit was due to “the extensive violent criminal history of Conway.”

Officers found Conway and another resident of the home along with Steven K. Winkle, 30, of Oil Trough, standing in the front yard. Conway was taken into custody on the absconder warrant while a search outside found two baggies of what later field-tested positive as methamphetamine as well as another baggie of meth in the tailpipe of a truck by which Conway was crouching when the officers’ arrived, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit said a search of the residence found a loaded .22 semi-automatic handgun, several pieces of drug paraphernalia, meth smoking devices, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Officers also reported finding over $1,400 in cash in Conway’s jacket that was hanging on a kitchen chair.

Investigators also located a .22 rifle in the backseat of Winkle’s vehicle that Winkle said was his, according to the court record. A check with the National Criminal Information Center found that Winkle had been previously convicted of a felony and was not allowed to have a firearm in his possession.

On March 2, the court docs said the sheriff’s department learned both .22 weapons found (the one in Conway’s residence and the one in Winkle’s vehicle) had been reported stolen out of Jackson County.

Conway was arrested and charged with five felonies including: possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a drug premises, possession of drug paraphernalia with the purpose to use meth, possession of a firearm by a certain person, and theft by receiving a firearm. Conway is also being charged as a habitual offender. He was placed under a $25,000 bond.

A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Steven J. Winkle. Winkle faces two felonies: possession of a firearm by a certain person and theft by receiving a firearm.

Winkle’s bond is $10,000.

Image of Conway via Stone County Sheriff’s Department

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