CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff man made his first appearance in federal court Thursday afternoon on an indictment charging him with multiple weapons and drug distribution offenses.
Payten James O’Neil Ice, 19, was transported to Cape Girardeau on Thursday morning by a Poplar Bluff police officer and turned over to the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Ice subsequently made his initial appearance Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Abbie Crites-Leoni on a six-count indictment, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn.
Ice was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charges, Hahn said.
Hahn said Ice waived having a detention hearing in his case. He will remain in custody as his cases proceeds.
A trial date will not be set until pretrial proceedings are concluded, Hahn said.
The indictment alleges on Sept. 19, 2018, Ice “did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.”
The indictment further alleges on the same date, Ice “during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime … knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance thereof,” specifically a Hi-Point 9mm pistol.
On Dec. 26, the indictment alleges Ice “did knowingly and intentionally distribute a mixture or substance which contained a detectable amount of methamphetamine,” as well as possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Ice, on March 3, allegedly again possessed with intent to distribute a substance containing methamphetamine and “during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime” possessed a Bersa Thunder .380-caliber pistol at the same time.
All the offenses allegedly occurred in Butler County.
If convicted, Hahn said, Ice faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million on each of the drug offenses, followed by not less than three years of supervised release.
Hahn further said Ice faces up to five years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine each of the weapon offenses, followed by up to a five-year period of supervised release.