DPS Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Drug Arrest

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – A traffic stop on Friday, Feb. 16 led to the arrest of a Houston County woman on felony drug charges.

Tonya Denise Renner, 47, was stopped by Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Kody Woolley at approximately 6 p.m. on the aforementioned date after he observed a blue Ford ZX2 “… operating without a registration insignia.”

According to an arrest warrant, after identifying the driver as Renner, the trooper “… observed a plastic bag containing a green leafy substance that emitted a string odor of marijuana inside of her purse.”

In addition, Woolley observed a plastic bag in the driver’s seat which contained what appeared to be a rock of crack cocaine. He also noticed a glass pipe which contained a burnt residue, according to the warrant.

“I (Woolley) asked Renner what was inside of the glass pipe and I asked Renner what was the white rock inside of the plastic bag. Renner told me it was crack cocaine,” the legal document stated.

In his report, Woolley stated Renner claimed ownership of the marijuana, the pipe and the crack cocaine.

Renner was arrested at the scene and transported to the Houston County Jail where she was booked into custody on charges of possession of a controlled substance – penalty group one – in an amount equal to or greater than four grams but less than two grams and possession of marijuana in an amount less than two ounces.

Under Texas law, this controlled substance possession offense is considered as a second degree felony, while the marijuana possession is considered as a Class B misdemeanor.

According to Section 12.33 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Renner posted bond of $12,000 and was released pending trial.

Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].