A Chandler man has pleaded guilty to trafficking illegal drugs and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance as the result of a plea bargain agreement with the district attorney.
District Judge Cindy Ashwood recently sentenced Joel Paul Schofield, 41, of Chandler, to six-year terms in the custody of the Department of Corrections on each of the two charges. He also was ordered to pay $100 fines on each of the charges and $100 VCA and court costs.
Judge Ashwood gave him one-year terms in the county jail on misdemeanors of resisting an officer and obstructing an officer. In addition, he is to pay $50 fines, $35 VCA and court costs on each of those charges as well.
The judge ordered the sentences run to concurrent with each other and with two others felony cases. Schofield is to receive credit for time served and he was advised of the mandatory methamphetamine registry.
He is to serve two years of post imprisonment supervision.
Schofield was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on April 15 with trafficking in illegal drugs and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, both felonies.
He was one of three persons charged.
The three were arrested by Iowa Tribe police officers in April in Lincoln County.
Count 1 accused Schofield of trafficking illegal drugs by possessing 164 grams of methamphetamine conjointly with Ian Wade Tramel, 39, Shawnee and Candi L. Dickson, 41, on April 1 this year in Lincoln County.
Court records show no address for Dickson.
In Count 2 Schofield was charged with distribution of CDS, including possession with intent to distribute, by possessing approximately 30 grams of heroin, conjointly, with Tramel and Dickson with the intention of distributing the same on April 1 in Lincoln County.
Schofield was also accused of running away from Iowa Tribal Officer Chad Brown and delaying him in the performance of his duties on the same date.
And in Count 4 he allegedly resisted an officer by refusing to put his hands behind his back when ordered to do so after being arrested by Brown.
In supplemental information filed by prosecutors on Schofield when he was charged in April, records show that on May 26, 2020, in Lincoln County District Court he was convicted of possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction and sentenced to three years in the custody of Department of Corrections.
All but the first year of that term was suspended.
Dickson is also charged with driving with license canceled/suspended/revoked.
Special Judge Emily Mueller has scheduled a preliminary hearing for Dickson at 1:30 p.m. on July 22.
Tramel has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and Judge Mueller scheduled his arraignment for 9:30 a.m. on July 27.
The three were arrested following a traffic stop that Officer Chad Brown and Iowa Tribal Police Sgt, Charles Danker made on a vehicle driven by Dickson just north of SH 105 on U.S. 177.
Schofield was a passenger in the vehicle who reportedly decided abruptly to exit the vehicle.
A foot pursuit followed with Officer Brown catching up with Schofield who told the officer he had a gun and that he would shoot the officer.
As it turned out, Schofield didn’t have a gun. Tramel did have a knife in his shirt pocket.
The officers discovered drugs, syringes, $679 in cash in an envelope, various drug paraphernalia, and other assorted items, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by Sgt. Danker.