OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City man faces a preliminary hearing on January 2 on possession of methamphetamine and related drug charges.

According to court documents, a preliminary hearing for 52-year-old Rodney Lee Plowman, of Oil City, is scheduled for Wednesday, January 2, in Venango County Central Court on the following charges:

– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony (three counts)
– Intentional Possession Controlled Substance By Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor (three counts)
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
– DUI: Controlled Substance — Schedule 2 or 3 — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– Duties At Stop Sign, Summary (two counts)

Plowman is currently free on a $50,000.00 surety bond.

Case details:

Franklin-based State Police filed criminal charges against Rodney Lee Plowman in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office on December 16.

According to a criminal complaint, Troopers Lindenberg and Cole were traveling eastbound on Spruce Street in Oil City and observed a gray Toyota Prius stop beyond a stop sign at the intersection of Spruce Street and Spring Street. The troopers continued to follow the Prius and again observed the vehicle stop beyond the stop sign at the intersection of Spring Street and Center Street. The troopers continued to follow the Prius on Spring Street, and when the vehicle turned onto Harriott Avenue, a traffic stop was initiated.

Upon making contact with the driver, Trooper Lindenberg observed a glass smoking pipe (commonly used for smoking crack cocaine or methamphetamine) located on the plastic instrument panel in front of the driver, according to the complaint.

The driver was unable to locate his driver’s license.

He was asked what the glass pipe was for, and he related that “he melted glass for making stuff.” He was asked to exit the vehicle, and a search of the driver’s person was initiated. He was identified as Rodney Lee Plowman.

On Plowman’s person, the following items were discovered:

– U.S. currency in various denominations in the amount of $2,611.00;
– 20 yellow gabapentin capsules;
– six blue clonazepam tablets; and
– 7.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

According to the complaint, Plowman related that he forgot about having those items on his person.

It was determined that upon Plowman’s performance of field sobriety testing, he was incapable of safe driving and under the influence of a controlled substance, the complaint states.

He was transported to UPMC for a blood draw.

He was then transported to the Franklin-based State Police station for processing, and he informed Trooper Lindenberg that he had more methamphetamine shoved down the front of his pants. He was then taken to the men’s restroom at PSP Franklin, and he removed his pants. It was discovered that a black zippered pouch was located near Plowman’s genitalia, the complaint states.

In the pouch were three small plastic bags containing suspected methamphetamine with the total weight of 3.1 grams.

He was arraigned at 6:50 a.m. on December 16 in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office.

Unable to post $50,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Venango County Jail.

On December 17, his bail was posted by a professional bondsman.