Two Oconee County Residents Arrested on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop

On Sunday evening, Oconee County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on West-Oak Highway near Manor Road between Westminster and Oakway, leading to the arrest of driver Heath Allan Bates, 42, of Westminster/Walhalla, on charges of possession of fentanyl and driving under suspension, and passenger Celeste Marie Lillian Edward Crowe, 36, of Walhalla, on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine and an active General Sessions bench warrant. Deputies seized approximately 2 grams of fentanyl from Bates and 12.4 grams of methamphetamine from Crowe. Both were booked into the Oconee County Detention Center, where Bates remains on $15,647.50 bond and Crowe on $20,000 bond plus the bench warrant. The investigation is ongoing.