Bollinger County deputies bust man on meth-for-sex sting

Bollinger County Sheriff’s deputies said they used a confidential informant to catch a drug dealer offering methamphetamine for sex.

Joseph Lee Rhodes, 45, of Marble Hill, Missouri, was arrested Tuesday and charged with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felony promoting prostitution and misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

The informant told deputies she had been in touch with Rhodes by text message Tuesday morning and in person at the Bollinger County Library later that day, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by chief deputy Darren Bullard.

During the in-person contact, Rhodes offered the informant methamphetamine in exchange for sex, Bullard wrote.

The informant told Rhodes she had to run an errand and then talked to deputies, according to the affidavit.

While she was talking to deputies, Rhodes sent the informant multiple messages wanting to know how much methamphetamine was necessary for the transaction, Bullard wrote.

Deputies instructed the informant to keep communicating with Rhodes and to ask for an eight-ball — 1/8 of an ounce — of methamphetamine and how much that would cost in money, according to the affidavit.

Rhodes was not keen on the deal for cash but accepted when the informant agreed to sex — they decided to go to the intersection of Highway 51 and Route M at noon, where they would meet before going to a second location for sex, Bullard wrote.

After the informant got into Rhodes’ pickup truck, which deputies watched out of immediate sight, they stopped the vehicle at a second location, Bullard wrote.

Deputies pulled Rhodes out of the truck, handcuffed him and patted him down, finding a bag with about .6 grams of methamphetamine and $200, according to the affidavit.

After he was read his Miranda rights, Rhodes confirmed he intended to trade the methamphetamine and money for sex, Bullard wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

302 Conrad Ave., Marble Hill, Mo.