Walhalla Man and New York Woman arrested on Drug Charges in OC

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Walhalla man and a New York woman on drug charges in separate incidents last week, including charges of trying to bring contraband into the Oconee County Detention Center. The first arrest involved 49-year-old Kevin Wayne Maler of Walhalla after deputies responded to an address on Lacey Lane in Seneca in regards to a disturbance. Maler was placed under arrest for an outstanding arrest warrant charging him with distribution of methamphetamine. Maler was wanted as part of the eleventh “Operation Infinity” drug sweep last November, which was entitled “Operation Ice Chizel.” Maler was transported to the Oconee County Detention Center, where a search incident to booking produced a quantity of methamphetamine on him. Maler was charged in additional warrants with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility. A judge set a combined $70,000 surety bond for Maler. The second arrest occurred after a deputy observed a vehicle traveling southbound on I-85 that failed to maintain its lane. The deputy initiated a traffic stop near exit 1, where the driver, 24-year-old Kayla Marie Schade-Nameth of Poughkeepsie, New York, told the deputy that she was headed to Atlanta. According to the deputy, Schade-Nameth exhibited suspicious behavior during the stop. After speaking with the deputy outside of the vehicle, Schade-Nameth returned to her vehicle in an attempt she said to retrieve her cell phone. A female officer arrived on the scene. Schade-Nameth produced for the officer drug paraphernalia that had drug residue on it, which turned out to be a quantity of heroin. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Oconee County Detention Center, where a search incident to booking produced a quantity of heroin on her. Schade-Nameth was charged in warrants with possession of heroin and for introducing contraband into a correction facility.