By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 19-year-old Maylene man is facing three felony drug distribution charges after he was arrested by the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force in late January.

The Task Force arrested Charles Austin Pemberton, who lists an address on Brantleyville Road in Maylene, on Jan. 27 and charged him with three felony counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance is a Class B felony, and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison upon conviction.

Pemberton’s arrest came after he allegedly distributed marijuana on three separate occasions in late 2015.

According to his arrest warrants, Pemberton allegedly distributed marijuana from his house on Sept. 15, 2015, and on Dec. 7, 2015. He has also been charged with distributing marijuana from a location on Lee Street in Pelham on Oct. 9, 2015.

As of Jan. 29, Pemberton was being held in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $30,000.