Three charged in Rodeway Inn drug bust

A Rehoboth Beach man, a Lewes man, and a Maryland woman face drug charges following a bust at the Rodeway Inn and Suites on Route 1 near Rehoboth Beach.

Members of the Sussex County Drug Unit and the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force executed a search warrant Nov. 5 at a hotel room in the Rodeway Inn and Suites at 19540 Coastal Highway north of Rehoboth Beach in connection with the distribution of illegal narcotics from the hotel room. Police said they saw Eric Howell, 49, of Rehoboth Beach, exit the room, and when he saw detectives, Howell tried to discard narcotics by stepping on them. He was taken into custody without incident. Inside the room, police said, detectives detained Trevor Harmon, 32, of Lewes, and Elizabeth Hone, 23, of Rockville, Md. 

Police searched all three people, the hotel room and Howell’s vehicle, and said they found about 11.78 grams of crack cocaine, about .15 grams of heroin, $310 in suspected drug proceeds, and digital scales. All three people were taken to Troop 7 for charges, and they were arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3.

Howell was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, tier 2, two counts possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree conspiracy, and three counts possession of drug paraphernalia. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $34,500 secured bond.

Harmon was charged with second-degree conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia, and committed to SCI in default of $2,500 secured bond.

Hone was charged with second-degree conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.