Traffic stop results in meth charge

A routine traffic stop for a missing front license plate on Highway 160 last August resulted in felony and misdemeanor drug charges after a trooper reported discovering a meth pipe inside the vehicle. 

Wanita Marie Moffite, a Theodosia woman born in 1988, is charged with a class D felony of possession of a controlled substance for meth residue and a class D misdemeanor of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia for the glass pipe. 

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper C. Dougherty, on Aug. 10, 2025, the trooper was driving on Highway 160, west of the Phillips 66 station when he saw Moffite traveling east in a Chrysler PT Cruiser with no front license plate. 

He placed his lights and sirens on to initiate a traffic top and made contact with Moffite, who was driving the vehicle. She had no passengers with her, the report says. Dougherty asked the woman to accompany him back to his patrol car, which she did. 

He then asked Moffite if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle, and she reportedly said there was not. He requested consent to search the vehicle, and Moffite granted that permission, the officer says. 

During the search, the officer found a glass smoking device with a white crystal-like substance residue inside the glove compartment, the report says. 

She was originally booked into the Ozark County Jail on a $1,500 cash only bond. She posted that bond on Dec. 1, and was released from custody. She is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. April 7, before Associate Judge Raymond Gross.