Harrison County man indicted on drug charges

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Austin Lodge, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was indicted today on drug charges, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Lodge, 28, was indicted on one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine” and one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.” Lodge is accused of having methamphetamine and heroin in December 2018 in Harrison County. 

Lodges faces up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for each charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.