Couple charged for trafficking fentanyl

After being arrested on I-40 near Vian

Two people are facing a felony charge of trafficking in illegal drugs (fentanyl) and one is facing additional charges of driving without a valid driver’s license and harboring a fugitive from justice following a routine traffic stop near Vian.

Barbara Linebarger, 45, with addresses in both Muldrow and Stilwell, was charged Jan. 10 and a warrant was issued for her arrest the same day, according to court records. She was arrested on Jan. 11, received a $25,000 bond and will appear before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters for a Feb. 8 felony disposition docket.

Charles W. Wigert, 38, of Sallisaw, was charged Jan. 11 and is also charged with driving without a valid driver’s license. He received a $3,000 bond and is set for a March 1 felony disposition docket. He was additionally charged on Jan. 18 with a felony count of harboring a fugitive from justice. Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy Charles Webber reported at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 he was patrolling south of Vian at I-40 when he saw a Ford F-150 turn around on the eastbound ramp with no tag lights and an expired tag, and initiated a traffic stop.

Webber approached the vehicle and spoke to the driver (Wigert), who stated he didn’t have a driver’s license and his wife (Linebarger) was having a seizure. The deputy looked at the woman who was in the passenger seat and reported she was slumped over and convulsing, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Deputy Randy Taylor arrived and tried to communicate with Linebarger while Webber patted down Wigert’s person. Webber said when he went to check on Linebarger, he noticed a syringe on the center console and a bag containing a white powder substance sticking out of the dash vent.

Webber took Wigert into custody until authorities could find out what was going on, according to the affidavit, and emergency personnel was called to the scene to check on Linebarger’s condition. Because Wigert kept trying to go to Linebarger’s aid, he was placed in the back of Webber’s patrol unit while Linebarger was transported to Northeastern Health System Sequoyah in Sallisaw.

Along with the syringe and powder substance, deputies reported finding four pills marked with a “C” over a “1” in Linebarger’s purse during a search of the vehicle.

Wigert was reportedly arrested for possession of a controlled dangerous substance at that time and a wrecker was called to impound the vehicle. He was transported to the Sequoyah County Detention Center and booked in, and a warrant was requested for Linebarger’s arrest.