Weldon Vance Barnett
Prince Frederick, MD – A Calvert County grand jury has indicted a Prince George’s County man on three felony drug charges. According to documents on file in the Maryland court system, the defendant—identified as Weldon Vance Barnett, 41 of Fort Washington—became a suspect in July when the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) began an investigation into a possible source of supply of heroin in the county. Drug officers had a suspect under surveillance on several occasions in the Upper Marlboro area. The suspect was subsequently identified as Barnett. According to court documents, “Barnett has multiple charges along with convictions for possession with intent to distribute within the State of Maryland. Barnett also appears to have criminal charges that were originated by the U.S. Marshal Service.”
A Calvert DEU detective stated in court documents that he was contacted by a “confidential informant, who advised they could purchase a predetermined amount of heroin from Barnett. The confidential informant stated they would be able to get Barnett to come to Calvert County to conduct the purchase. It was determined by the DEU, along with the Calvert County Special Operations Team to conduct a ‘buy bust’ on Barnett.” The buy bust was conducted July 17 at a commercial location in Owings and ended with Barnett’s apprehension.
According to court documents, a search of Barnett’s person yielded approximately 162.6 grams of suspected heroin “compressed into circular disk-shaped objects located in his left front shorts pocket, $2,580 in his front right shorts pocket and $600 in U.S. currency that was used from the DEU funds for the controlled purchase. Investigators also confiscated several cell phones, several bags containing suspected heroin residue, Ziploc bags, a digital scale and multiple envelopes addressed to Barnett.
The DEU detective stated in court documents that after being read his Miranda rights, Barnett spoke with investigators. “I messed up,” Barnett is quoted as saying, telling the officers he was a former electrician who has been unemployed since last December. Barnett stated that he was selling heroin “to make money to pay bills.”
The indictment counts Barnett faces are controlled dangerous substance (CDS) distribution, CDS possession with intent to distribute and CDS possession large amount.
Barnett was released shortly after his arrest on $200,000 bond. According to court records he is being represented by attorney Thomas Mooney. Barnett next appearance in Calvert County Circuit Court will be a status hearing on the case later this month.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com