3 plead not guilty after drug bust

Published 10:19 am Friday, June 24, 2016

Three suspects pleaded not guilty Thursday in Mower County court to various drug charges stemming a bust earlier this month.

Ernest Pitchford, 36, of Austin was charged with felony second-degree drug sales and four counts of felony third-degree drug sales.

Stephanie Behrends, 30, of Austin was charged with two counts of felony first-degree drug possession, both subsequent offenses.

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Tangela Jones, 32, of Austin was charged with felony second-degree drug sales and two counts of felony third-degree drug sales.

At 5:53 a.m. on June 16, Austin police and United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents executed a search warrant at 802 12th Avenue SW.

Behrends and Brianna Constance Kay Ober, 21, of Owatonna were in the home and are known associates of a drug dealer.

Police seized about 30 grams of heroin and 80 grams of crack cocaine. The suspects showed officers the drugs were located in Ober’s shoes near the front door.

Officers also gathered information on each suspect through informants and observed drug sales to arrest the other suspects.

Other people charged in the incident include:

•Ober was charged with two counts of felony first-degree drug possession. In a separate case, she was charged in March with felony aid or abet second-degree drug sales in a park zone. Her next appearance is scheduled for June 30.

•Carolyn Michelle Molhusen, 25, of Austin was charged with felony second-degree drug sales and four counts of felony third-degree drug sales. Molhusen’s next appearance is scheduled for June 30.

•Amy Beth Wagner, 25, of Austin is charged with felony second-degree drug sales in a park zone and felony third-degree drug sales, both subsequent offenses. Her next appearance is scheduled for June 30.