CLARKSBURG, W. Va. — A former Harrison County process server has plead guilty to two felonies.
Jason Lee Marple, 35, entered the plea to U.S. Magistate John. S. Kaull on Tuesday, admitting to aiding and abetting distribution of oxycodone within 1,000 feet of a protected location — a Clarksburg city park in the Northview district which qualifies as a playground– and possession, use and carrying of his Harrison County Sheriff’s Department firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
He faces a minimum of six years in prison when he’s sentenced by U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley at a later date.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The plea deal was arranged by Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan and Federal Defender Brian Kornbrath.
After a extensive period of questioning conducted by Kaull, Marple said he entered into the plea agreement on his own, without any outside influence.
Marple met with an undercover officer in the Clarksburg K-Mart parking lot to sell oxycodone pills back in March, according to the evidence presented by Morgan, and pulled up next to the undercover officer in a Harrison County Sheriff’s Department cruiser while wearing his uniform. The undercover officer voiced concern the situation. Marple attempted to alleviate his fears by saying, “I’m just a mail man with a gun.”
Marple met several more times with the undercover cop and informant because he did not have the pills on him on several occasions.
The undercover officer provided the informant with money to buy the pills from Marple at the park.
The pills were positively identified as 30mg oxycodone pills after initial examination from on medication identification website and after being sent to the State Police Crime Lab for further tests.
A pre-sentencing investigation will be conducted before Keeley takes over the case.
There are eight other defendants named in this case and five have entered guilty pleas or are have a plea hearing scheduled.