Police Catch Villas Mom with Pot in Her Trunk

VILLAS — Lower Township detectives confiscated over a pound of marijuana and dozens of prescription pills following a recent drug investigation.
On Monday, March 23, detectives received information that a Stephanie Ayala, 30, of the 200 Block of Arbor Road, Villas and Willow Grove, Pa., was transporting a large amount of marijuana in her vehicle, a red, 2003, Ford Taurus.
Information was received that Ayala would be meeting an unknown individual at the Villas 7-11 convenience store to distribute a large amount of marijuana.
Detectives set up surveillance of the store and at approximately 8:30 p.m. they observed Ayala pull into the parking lot.
Ayala then entered the store and upon returning to her vehicle, was met by Detective First Class Mel Hedum and Detective Chris Lambert, who advised her of the information that they had received regarding her activities.
Ayala also had two children, a three-year-old and a five-year-old, in the car with her.
Ayala then signed a consent to search for her vehicle.
Detectives located over a pound of marijuana in the trunk of her vehicle, along with 38 Percocet pills.
Ayala was arrested at the scene and charged with the following offenses: possession of over 50 grams of marijuana, a third-degree crime; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, a third-degree crime; possession of 38 prescription narcotic pills without a valid prescription, also a third degree crime.
In addition, Ayala was charged with two counts of child endangerment for having the children present in the car with her with the purpose to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
Detective contacted DYFS and the children were later released to a relative.
Ayala was lodged in county jail on $25,000 cash bail.
The investigation was conducted by Hedum and Lambert with the assistance of Patrolman Matt Dickinson.