Alva Review-Courier -

It was easy to identify illegal narcotics found at a local apartment, according to court documents. Many of them were labeled “contains marijuana, keep out of reach of children.”

Woods County Undersheriff Keith Dale went to the Aspen Apartments on Hart Street in Alva Tuesday, May 1, after someone reported suspected drug activity there. The caller reported the odor of burning marijuana from the apartment occupied by Joshua Eddy King and Stephanie Ruth King.

Dale and Deputy Kyle Fuller went to the apartment complex, parking on the east end. Dale smelled burning marijuana as soon as he exited his vehicle. The odor was stronger as he approached the suspects’ apartment. He found Joshua King, Kecia Grace Fife and Lawrence Andrew Mader sitting on the back porch of the apartment. Dale saw Stephanie exiting the back sliding door but she saw him and retreated back inside.

Dale explained why he and Fuller were there, and asked Joshua to have Stephanie come outside. With the door open, Dale could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the apartment. In questioning, the Kings admitted there was marijuana inside and gave consent for a search of their apartment.

A black drawstring backpack in the living room with “The Green Solution experience cannabis” printed on it was found to contain a baggie with approximately 9.5 grams of marijuana, a digital pocket scale with marijuana on it, a plastic container holding about 28.2 grams of marijuana, a sealed package with “The Lodge Kosher Kush-Wax 1000 mg contains marijuana” printed on the label and containing marijuana shatter, a glass jar of Double Black Terp Crystal Purple Rockstar Kush (a form of marijuana wax, a glass jar labeled “THC” and “Contains marijuana, keep out of the reach of children” with wax inside, a plastic container labeled “the Lodge Fat Alberts Diesel Shatter 1000 mg contains marijuana” with two pieces of paper containing marijuana shatter, a plastic container of “Black Fire Shatter 1 gram” with “Contains marijuana, keep out of reach of children” printed on the label and containing shatter, a plastic container of “Conspiracy Kush Pho Wax 1 gram” with “Contains marijuana, keep out of the reach of children” printed on the label, and a digital thermometer.

Joshua reached behind the couch and handed Dale four more items: a plastic bag containing approximately 24.3 grams of marijuana, a plastic container with numerous burnt ends of marijuana cigarettes, a metal pipe with marijuana residue, and a plastic container holding marijuana.

Joshua went into his bedroom where he retrieved a metal tin that contained a marijuana grinder, a metal pipe with marijuana residue, a package of rolling papers, marijuana and marijuana roaches.

Joshua admitted ownership of everything except what was found in the black backpack.

All four individuals present were read their Miranda rights, with all invoking those rights except Stephanie.

While citations were being written, Joshua said he purchases his marijuana from Mader. Fuller searched Mader and found a vape pen in his pocket. He said Mader told him it contained marijuana. When Fuller was explaining the charges, Mader said he was trying to be safe by going to Colorado to purchase his marijuana.

During the book in process, Mader was found to have $260 which was seized as drug currency.

The Kings’ apartment is approximately 180 feet from Lincoln Elementary School.

In a records check, Dale found Mader had been arrested numerous times for drug offenses. In March of 2014, Mader was convicted in Barber County, Kansas, for distribution of hallucinogenic or marijuana.

Lawrence Andrew Mader, 31, of Alva has been charged with two felonies: possession of controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute within 2,000 feet of a school and acquiring proceeds from drug activity.

The first offense is punishable by imprisonment for two years to life and/or a fine of up to $20,000. The second crime is punishable by not less than two years to not more than 10 years in the state penitentiary and/or a fine of not more than $50,000.

Mader’s bond has been set at $100,000, and his next court appearance has been set for June 12.