By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A pair of Chilton County residents are being held in the Shelby County Jail on several felony drug charges after they allegedly attempted to traffic heroin at an Alabaster shopping center.

The Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force arrested 33-year-old Maplesville resident Brandon Keith Roper and 21-year-old Clanton resident Emily Reagan Wright and charged them both with felony counts of trafficking heroin.

Roper is also facing charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, illegally possessing a pistol, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $277,000.

Wright is also facing charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $117,000.

According to their arrest warrants, Roper and Wright allegedly attempted to distribute 8.28 grams of heroin in Alabaster’s Propst Promenade shopping center on Friday, Feb. 10.

As of Feb. 13, Wright was scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 15. Roper did not yet have a preliminary hearing set.

Trafficking heroin is a Class A felony, and is punishable by up to life in prison upon conviction.