FROM STAFF REPORTS

Three suspects face charges that they conspired to traffic crystal methamphetamine in Iredell County following a multi-agency investigation.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Steven Early Abernethy, 35, of Denver, N.C., in a news release on Monday.

Abernethy was taken into custody on Friday, July 16, by members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigations Unit, along with members of the N.C. State Bureau of Investigations, deputies with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, and members of the N.C. Department of Probation.

ICSO Narcotics investigators identified Abernethy as an individual distributing large amounts of crystal Methamphetamine in Iredell and the surrounding counties in June, Campbell said.

With the assistance of the SBI, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, undercover ICSO investigators purchased over approximately 1,000 grams (or over two pounds) of crystal methamphetamine directly from Abernethy, according to the news release.

ICSO investigators also identified George Allen Bailer Jr., also from Denver, and Amanda Louise Collins from Newton, as associates of Abernethy, Campbell said, adding that Bailer and Collins helped Abernethy distribute crystal methamphetamine in Iredell, Catawba and Lincoln counties.

When Abernethy was arrested in Lincoln County, narcotics investigators there discovered an additional half pound of crystal methamphetamine inside his residence, Campbell said.

Catawba County Sheriff’s Office investigators also have charged Steven Earl Abernethy with various narcotics charges in that jurisdiction.

As a result of this multi-county investigation, Abernethy faces the following charges in Iredell County: Felony Trafficking by Sale Crystal Methamphetamine, Felony Trafficking by Delivery Crystal Methamphetamine, Felony Trafficking by Transportation Crystal Methamphetamine, and Felony Trafficking by Possession Crystal Methamphetamine (all over 400 grams), Felony Trafficking by Sale Crystal Methamphetamine, Felony Trafficking by Delivery Crystal Methamphetamine, Felony Trafficking by Transportation Crystal Methamphetamine, and one count of Felony Trafficking by Possession Crystal Methamphetamine (all over 28 grams but less than 200 grams), Felony Conspiracy to Traffic Crystal Methamphetamine with George Allen Bailer Jr., and Felony Conspiracy to Traffic Crystal Methamphetamine with Amanda Louise Collins.

Magistrate Chambers set bond on these, and the other charges from Catawba and Lincoln counties at $750,000.

According to the ICSO, Abernethy’s criminal history includes the following charges: Felony Assault on a Probation or Parole Officer, Four Counts of Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Misdemeanor Shoplifting by Concealment, two counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, DWI Level 1, and Misdemeanor Worthless Check.

He is currently on Probation in Lincoln County for two counts of Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance.

Bailer was charged by ICSO Narcotics investigators with Felony Conspiracy to Traffic Crystal Methamphetamine with Steven Earl Abernathy, Felony Trafficking Crystal Methamphetamine by Transportation, and Felony Trafficking Crystal Methamphetamine by Possession. He is currently in custody in Georgia on narcotics charges unrelated to this investigation, and is awaiting extradition to Iredell County for these charges.

Collins, was charged by ICSO Narcotics investigators with Felony Conspiracy to Traffic Crystal Methamphetamine with Steven Earl Abernathy, and Felony Conspiracy to Traffic Crystal Methamphetamine with George Allen Bailer Jr., Felony Possession of Crystal Methamphetamine, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Crystal Methamphetamine, Felony Sell or Deliver Crystal Methamphetamine. Collins is currently in custody in Guilford County awaiting her return to Iredell County.

“The street value of the Crystal Methamphetamine seized in Iredell was approximately $58,000, in Catawba County approximately $44,600 and in Lincoln County $25,500 for a total of $128,100 worth of drug off of the streets of our counties,” Campbell said. “Cooperation, communication, and teamwork such as this, between our agencies is another example of us all working together to fight drug trafficking in our counties to make them all a safer place.”