Alva Review-Courier -

An 18-year-old from Alva is facing a felony charge after an informant set up a marijuana purchase.

John Connor Weinhoffer, 18, of Alva, has been charged with unlawful possession of controlled drug (marijuana) with intent to distribute. This crime is punishable by a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment for two years to life or both such fine and imprisonment.

Court records show on Wednesday, Oct. 31, Alva Police Officers Ron Vasquez and John Caviness met with a confidential informant (CI) who said he could purchase two grams of marijuana from another person. The officers observed a Snap Chat conversation between the two. The suspect said he was currently working and could not complete the transaction, but an associate identified as Conner would be able to complete the sale. The CI agreed to a meeting that afternoon for the purchase of three grams of marijuana.

After providing the CI with three photographed and marked $20 bills, the officers followed the CI to the meeting place. They watched the CI pick up the suspect and followed them to the corner of Maple and Noble in Alva. They watched the subject identified as Weinhoffer leave the vehicle and go to the front of the residence in the 800 block of Noble and return to the CI’s vehicle.

The CI gave a predetermined signal that the transaction had occurred. The officers made contact with them, and saw that Weinhoffer had the three marked $20 bills in his hand. According to the affidavit, Weinhoffer was searched and a sack containing marijuana was found in his pants pocket.

Weinhoffer was placed in restraints and taken to the Woods County Jail. At the jail in a post-Miranda warning interview, Weinhoffer said in the past he had made several purchases from the residence at Noble and Maple, and that he had purchased and sold marijuana in Alva within the last seven days, according to the court affidavit.