Washington trio accused of drug trafficking

COEUR d’ALENE — Three Washington residents are facing felony charges after police said they trafficked drugs.

Police stopped a vehicle on U.S. 95 on Saturday for having an obstructed license plate. The driver was identified as Ashlie J. Green, 19, and the occupants were identified as Terrance A. Austin and Chance W. Case, both 35 years old.

After a K9 allegedly alerted to the scent of a narcotic coming from the vehicle, police performed a search, according to court documents.

Police said they found chunks of a brown substance they suspected to be heroin, as well as clear plastic bags containing chunks of the same substance.

The search also reportedly yielded paraphernalia, including a bong, used and unused pipes, used syringes, scorched tinfoil, straws used to consume illegal substances and a large scale with residue on it.

Police also allegedly found a plastic bag in Green’s bra, which contained a substance she said was heroin, according to court records.

In the trunk of the car, police said they found four tools, which Green said Austin and Case had stolen from a hardware store. The tools were worth more than $500.

Austin, Case and Green were arrested at the scene and charged with trafficking in heroin, conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy, all felonies. Austin and Case are also charged with burglary, a felony.

Police said they found approximately eight grams of heroin in total, according to court documents.

In Idaho, trafficking between seven and 28 grams of heroin is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a minimum $15,000 fine.

A judge ordered that Austin and Case be held on $50,000 bail each, while Green is being held on $25,000 bail.