W’burg man arrested on methamphetamine-related charge

An extra patrol in the Goldbug community early Sunday morning by a Whitley County Sheriff’s deputy resulted in the arrest of a Williamsburg man on a methamphetamine related charge.

Joseph S. Bauer, 33, pleaded not guilty to charges of public intoxication and first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) during his arraignment Monday afternoon in Whitley District Court.

Judge Fred White appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Bauer, scheduled a Feb. 26 preliminary hearing in his case and set a $7,500 cash bond.

About 3 a.m. Sunday, Deputy Brian Hensley was patrolling in the Goldbug community in response to recent criminal activity in the area when he noticed a man walking north along US25, according to a sheriff’s department release.

Hensley made contact with Bauer near Exit 15 after watching him stagger, according to an arrest citation.

He showed signs of intoxication, and Whitley County E911 verified Bauer had a bench warrant for his arrest, the release stated.

Hensley searched Bauer and located two plastic bags in his pants that Bauer claimed had Epsom Salt inside, but field tested as methamphetamine, according to the release.

The contents of both bags were sent to the Kentucky State Police Crime Lab for testing, Hensley wrote in the arrest citation.

The sheriff’s department will continue extra patrols of Watts Creek and the greater Goldbug area in response to recent complaints, according to the release.

Bauer’s bench warrant stemmed from a Jan. 31 citation for failure to produce a vehicle insurance card and failure to maintain vehicle insurance, according to district court records.

Bauer allegedly failed to show up for court on Feb. 12 for his arraignment, which resulted in the issuance of the contempt of court bench warrant for failure to appear.

Bauer pleaded guilty to the failure to maintain vehicle insurance charge during his arraignment Monday afternoon in exchange for the dismissal of the contempt of court charge and the failure to produce a vehicle insurance charge.

White sentenced him to a 90-day jail sentence that was probated for two years, and ordered him to pay a $250 fine plus court costs.