Area man busted for meth near school

A Cedar Ridge man has been charged with four counts of drug violations after narcotics agents arrested him at his house across from an elementary school on suspicion of selling methamphetamine.

Paul R. Denton is being held in lieu of $65,000 bail at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on charges of having methamphetamine for sale and having cocaine, Oxycontin and Vicodin, according to court records. The latter two drugs both are powerful prescription painkillers.

"(Officers) found more than two ounces of meth and several thousand (dollars) in cash," Nevada County Sheriff's Lt. Bill Evans said.

Officers from the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force and the Nevada County Probation Department last week searched Denton's home on the 11000 block of Highway 174, across from Union Hill School.

Denton had been on probation after a recent conviction for illegal possession of a concealed weapon, Evans said. Surprise searches are one of the probation conditions.

Denton will not face the additional charge of selling drugs 1,000 feet from a school, Evans said, because he allegedly was selling from his home and not a public facility or gathering place, such as a park or restaurant.

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To contact Staff writer Robyn Moormeister, e-mail robynm@theunion.com or call 477-4236.