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BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS

Correspondent

WAYNESBURG – A man was arrested on drug-trafficking charges after the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) executed a search warrant on a camper in Waynesburg.

The search warrant, which was a joint effort by LCSO, the Eubank Police Department and Lincoln County Constables, resulted in the arrest of 53-year-old Luther Fugate.

Fugate was living in the camper located at 62 Highview Drive where the search was conducted.

According to the arrest citation, Fugate was found inside the camper at the time of the search with a loaded 38-caliber handgun and a large amount of U.S. currency in his pockets.

Glass smoking pipes were in plain view, according to deputies.

“Inside of the pouch next to the couch, I recovered a large amount of suspected marijuana, digital scales, baggies and a pouch with approximately .5 ounces of methamphetamine inside, two containers with various pills,” the citation states.

Deputies also found four long guns in the bedroom. Fugate is a convicted felon.

Fugate allegedly told deputies he uses meth and smokes pot and that the guns were his, and stated he had approximately one pound of marijuana inside. He told deputies he traded the pills for sex.

Deputies arrested Fugate and charged him with trafficking in controlled substance (methamphetamine); trafficking in controlled substance (opiates); trafficking in marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of handgun by convicted felon; and possession of a firearm by convicted felon.

Fugate was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.

According to a press release from the LCSO, deputies recovered approximately 25 narcotic pills varying from Suboxone to Hydrocodone, approximately one ounce of suspected crystal methamphetamine and 17.3 ounces of marijuana.

Sgt. Michael Mullins was the arresting officer and is overseeing the ongoing investigation. Deputies Logan Smith, Brandon McIntosh, Constable Delbert Mitchell and Eubank Police Chief Tony Duncan assisted.