Seneca Man arrested on Drug Charges

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Seneca man on Sunday evening on drug charges during routine road patrol operations, explains Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt.  “26-year-old Jerry Arimando Ortega, Jr. of 301 Zion Hill Road in Seneca was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 6:12pm.  According to deputies, an officer performed a traffic stop on Nebo Church Road near Zion Hill Road in the Seneca area after the vehicle crossed over the center line of the roadway.  The deputy could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle after issuing the driver Ortega a warning for crossing over the center line and confirming that Ortega had a valid driver’s license. Upon being asked, Ortega told the deputy that he had been smoking marijuana.  After asking to search the vehicle, Ortega told the deputy that the marijuana was on the floor board by his seat.  Deputies then retrieved the marijuana from Ortega’s vehicle.  No other narcotics were found and the owner of the vehicle took possession of the car, which was a burnt orange in color Plymouth Neon. Ortega was then arrested.  Warrants charge him with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.  According to the incident report, the amount of marijuana seized was almost 29 grams.” Ortega was released from the Oconee County Detention Center Monday afternoon on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.