Md. couple face drug charges in Culpeper
Published: December 8, 2009
Updated: December 8, 2009
A Maryland couple face several drug charges after a traffic stop in Culpeper on Sunday.
Tealeye Luciano, 34, was charged with DUI, refusing a breath test, driving with no driver’s license, possession of marijuana, transporting drugs into the state for distribution, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute prescription drugs.
Demian Galen Filkins was charged with possession of marijuana, transporting drugs into the state for distribution with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute prescription drugs.
During the investigation, Culpeper Police officers confiscated nearly $5,000, two ounces of suspected methamphetamine and a pick-up truck.
According to town spokesman Wally Bunker, Master Officer Andy Berry stopped Luciano on North Main Street around 4:30 a.m. for suspected driving drunk.
Berry said the woman appeared “disoriented and confused.”
During questioning, Luciano, who was in the truck alone at the time, said she and her boyfriend had recently attended a Phish concert in Charlottesville and were staying at a local motel.
After the arrest, Luciano asked officers to check on her boyfriend at the Rodeway Inn on Willis Lane.
When officers entered the room, they noticed Filkins in bed and suspected marijuana in the room.
In addition to the drugs and prescription pills, police say, they found $3,900 in cash in the room and $1,000 in cash on Luciano.
The couple is being held without bond in the Culpeper County jail. They are scheduled to appear in Culpeper General District Court Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
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Reader Reactions
These illegal immigrants from Maryland are getting out of hand. We need to secure our northern border.
Richmond, this may come as a surprise to you but “rights” are something that apply to all,....even (alleged) stoners. Which ones would you mind giving up?
But in this case (and I thought I made it clear) that I was more interested in a more complete coverage of what happened. Drug stories far too often are not covered with near the accuracy of most other stories.
Obviously there is a lot left out that a reasonable person would wonder about.
I do know that people even in motel rooms have some expectation of privacy. They do not have to let police into the room. So it is reasonable to ask how the police gained entrance and were able to search. But I have no reason to think that the PD did not adhere to proper procedure.
My biggest public safety concern was that the allegedly drunk person was taken off the road. Kudos to the cop that spotted her.
BTW isn’t Judge Cullen long retired?
Maybe “this lady,“ who was apparently drunk, was mad that she got caught and her stoner boyfriend didn’t. Maybe the police knocked on the door and he opened it. If the police can see and smell marijuana, that gives them some head start in the search process. Why, rjma? Are you worried that the poor stoner, who was only in town to do a little drug dealing, has had his rights violated by procedural error? Maybe if he’s lucky, he’ll get to go in front of Judge Cullen.
There’s something missing here. Why in the world would this lady ask the police to “check on” her boyfriend (let alone say where he was) who she must have know had something illegal in his room. Also how does the police get access to the room and find the goods? Did he agree to a search? You still have a degree of privacy even in a motel room. There is just something about drug stories that media reports forget about all the regular reporting rules.
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