2 passengers in car face charges after traffic stop
The driver had no valid license, police said.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Marijuana found in a car on Worthington Street led to drug charges against the two passengers, both from James Lane, Girard.
At arraignment Friday in municipal court, the front passenger, Clayton Peyatt, 24, pleaded innocent to a charge of drug abuse (marijuana). He will be back in court April 28.
An arrest warrant was issued for the rear passenger, 31-year-old William R. Martin, who failed to appear for arraignment, the clerk of court's office said. Martin is also charged with drug abuse (marijuana).
The driver, Shawn T. Moore, 24, also of James Lane, pleaded guilty at arraignment to charges of driving under suspension and failure to stay in the right lane. Judge Robert P. Milich fined Moore $75, placed him on one year's probation and told him to produce a valid license.
Traffic stop
Patrolman Michael Cox spotted Moore's Buick traveling very slow on Worthington in the center and on the left side of the road around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Cox stopped the car on Wirt Street and discovered that Moore's Pennsylvania driver's license is under suspension.
When Moore got out of the Buick, Cox detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car, reports show.
A bag of suspected marijuana was found under the rear passenger seat, where Martin had been sitting, and two bags were found jammed under the front seat, where Peyatt had been sitting, police said. The driver denied knowing about the bags being in the car.