By Jacob Mathias

Two Plover residents facing multiple drug charges appeared in court Monday following arrests for trafficking heroin.

Maurice Harper, 47, is charged with three counts of delivering between three and 10 grams of heroin, a felony with a maximum sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment, or a $50,000 fine or both for each count if convicted. He is also charged with a count of delivering less than three grams of heroin which carries a sentence of up to 12 years and six months imprisonment, or a $25,000 fine or both.

For two other charges, felonious recklessly endangering safety and possession with intent to deliver heroin, Harper could see up to 12 years and six

Kendra M. Trzebiatowski. (Courtesy Portage Co. Jail)

months imprisonment, or a $25,000 fine or both for each charge if convicted.

His final two charges, possession with intent to deliver THC and maintaining a drug trafficking place, carry sentences of up to three years and six months imprisonment, or a $10,000 fine or both if convicted.

All of Harper’s sentences can be increased up to six years due to being subsequent offender.

Kendra Trzebiatowski, 19, was arrested with Harper and is charged with one count each of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver THC and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

According to court documents, the investigation of the two defendants began following the investigation of a Town of Sharon man who was victim of a heroin overdose on Nov. 15. The investigation revealed that the victim had received the drug from Harper.

Over the next few weeks, undercover purchases of heroin from Harper were made by the Central Wisconsin Drug Task Force. The purchases from Harper were made on Nov. 17 and 24, and Dec. 1.

Later on Dec. 1, a search warrant was obtained and executed at the home of the defendants on the 3200 block of Wilson Ave. in Plover. The search uncovered marijuana pipes, a meth pipe, digital scale, three baggies of heroin and 10 baggies of marijuana.

Harper and Trzebiatowski were not present during the search but the two were pulled over in their car and arrested while returning to Plover from Chicago on December 1. When searched, police found 17 grams of heroin hidden in Trzebiatowski’s underwear. She said Harper had given her the heroin.

When detectives interviewed Trzebiatowski, she said Harper was her boyfriend and had been staying with her at the Plover apartment for three months. She admitted that customers came to the apartment to purchase marijuana and heroin from both her and Harper.

A $50,000 cash bond has been set for Harper and he remains in custody. He made his initial appearance in Portage County Circuit Court on December 14 and returns on December 21 at 3:00 for a preliminary hearing.

Trzebiatowski is free on a $1,000 cash bond and also made her initial court appearance on Dec. 14. She returns on Dec. 28 for a preliminary hearing.