Joshua Loren Borkholder

WARSAW — Drug charges have officially been filed against Joshua Loren Borkholder, 38, 13317 N. 700W, Nappanee, and Heidi Renee Graber, 40, 902 E. Lincoln St., Nappanee, following a traffic stop Jan. 25 in Warsaw.

Borkholder has been charged with dealing in methamphetamine, a level 3 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor. The dealing meth charge has been enhanced to a level 2 felony, and the possession of meth has been enhanced to a level 4 felony, due to prior convictions. He was held on $5,250 surety and cash bond.

Graber has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor. She was held on $5,250 surety and cash bond.

Court documents state Jan. 25 Warsaw Police observed a vehicle change lanes without proper signal northbound on Detroit Street, near Jalynn Street. When the officer activated his emergency lights, the vehicle continued northbound, passing CR 300N, before stopping. The female passenger was observed making movements toward the floor area of her seat.

Heidi Renee Graber

The driver was identified as Borkholder and Graber was identified as the passenger. While police were speaking with Borkholder, the officer observed a bright orange cylindrical object, appearing to be the safety cap of a hypodermic needle, in the pocket of a sweatshirt worn by Borkholder.

K-9 Officer Dax was used to detect the odor of drugs during an outer search of the vehicle and alerted on the presence of drugs. A search of the vehicle found several smoking devices containing residue, a fabric bag containing a plastic bag with a crystal substance, two digital scales with residue, and numerous unused plastic bags. The crystal substance and residue field tested positive for methamphetamine. The crystal substance found weighed 5.6 grams.

A search of Graber found three full pills and three partial pills, which were identified as hydrocodone. Graber admitted to police she has an addiction problem and had smoked methamphetamine two days prior. Borkholder also admitted having an addiction problem.

After being transported to the county jail, authorities found 4 1/2 yellow pills, identified as alprazolam, on Graber, and two coffee filters with a white powder and five peach colored pills on Borkholder. The coffee filters tested positive for methamphetamine, and the pills were identified as buprenorphine.

Court documents note that Borkholder was convicted of dealing meth Jan. 7, 2010, in Elkhart County, which resulted in the enhanced charges.