May 2, 2012 at 6:13 p.m.
Rhinelander residents arrested in heroin probe
Total of six locals arrested for using and dealing 'very addictive' drug
Rhinelander residents arrested in heroin probe
According to a press release issued Tuesday by Oneida County Sheriff Jeff Hoffman and Rhinelander Police Chief Mike Steffes, a total of six people have been arrested as part the ongoing heroin probe.
As the River News reported in Tuesday's edition, Rogerick E. Simmons, 44, and Dominique A. Jones, 20, both of Rhinelander, were charged after the task force set up a controlled heroin buy.
According to court records, a confidential informant met with Simmons and Jones at a residence in the city of Rhinelander April 12 and gave them $1,040. Of that sum, $1,000 was for Simmons and $40 was for Jones, according to a criminal complaint filed against Jones. In exchange, the informant received 11 bindles of heroin wrapped in tinfoil.
"Simmons had the heroin in his underwear and handed it to me," the informant said, according to the complaint. "I saw a gun in the waistband of his pants."
Simmons has been charged with two counts of manufacture/delivery of heroin and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, Simmons was bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing in Oneida County Circuit Court Tuesday morning and will enter a plea May 7.
He is being held in the Oneida County jail on $50,000 cash bail.
Jones is charged with one count of delivery of Schedule I or II narcotics (heroin) and two counts of manufacture/delivery of THC. According to the complaint, the confidential informant also purchased marijuana from Jones as part of a controlled buy.
Jones is free on a $5,000 signature bond. A preliminary hearing in his case is set for May 16.
The charges against Simmons carry a maximum sentence of 62 years in prison.
Jones faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him.
Paul N. Dietz, 31, Clifford L. Dutton, 29, Elliot J. Boyer, 21, and Veronica J. Wells, 37, all of Rhinelander, have also been referred to the district attorney's office for various charges related to the sale and use of heroin, according to the press release.
Hoffman and Steffes praised the investigating officers for their work in arresting these individuals and issued a warning to the public about the dangers of heroin trafficking and use.
"Heroin is a very addictive drug and is a health hazard for the community as users commonly ingest the drug by use of needles," the lawmen said in a statement. "Other health-related issues include quality of life and communicable diseases due to the sharing of needles. Overdoses and death are often associated with heroin use."
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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