Dacula High School Students Facing Felony Drug Charges

Two Dacula High School students and one juvenile are facing charges after being found in possession of drugs and counterfeit money.

Police were called to the on Dec. 9 after a male attempted to use a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for an order at the drive-thru window. The Dacula City Marshal prevented the suspect vehicle from leaving the scene by blocking the car in the drive-thru lane.

Once Gwinnett County Police arrived, the driver of the suspect vehicle, later identified as 17-year-old Stephen Nelson, was ordered to pull into a parking space. In addition to Nelson, two other people were in the vehicle: 18-year-old Matthew Bielstein and a 15-year-old juvenile female. 

Upon approaching the vehicle, two officers immediately noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. All three occupants were asked to step out of the vehicle.

When asked, Nelson and Bielstein denied having any marijuana in the vehicle. Bielstein did, however, admit the $100 counterfeit bill was his. Bielstein claimed the bill was part of his payment from work and that he did not know the bill was counterfeit. According to the police report, the bill was clearly fake. The reporting officer described the bill as being the incorrect color and upon closer examination determined the bill was actually a $5 bill that had been altered to look like a $100 bill.

Due to the strong odor of marijuana, the officers searched the vehicle. Inside the glove box, officers located a quart-sized Ziploc type bag filled with green, leafy buds. Under that bag was another bag containing several smaller bags filled with green, leafy material. The material field-tested positive for marijuana. All three suspects denied knowing who owned the marijuana.

All three vehicle occupants were advised they were under arrest for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. During a post-arrest search, an officer discovered two Alprazolam pills in Nelson’s pocket as well as some green, leafy material that appeared to be marijuana residue. Bielstein was found to be in possession of several different denominations of U.S. currency. When the officer questioned why Bielstein had not used one of several available smaller denominations to pay for his $2.89 Taco Bell order, Bielstein replied that he had used the $100 bill because he did not like to carry around large denominations. Bielstein maintained that he did not know the bill was fake.

Bielstein and Nelson claimed the vehicle had been borrowed from a friend. An officer checked the vehicle registration information and found it did not match information provided by the suspects. The vehicle was impounded after an unsuccessful attempt to reach the registered owner.

The juvenile was released to her mother’s custody after a juvenile complaint form was completed for the charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Bielstein and Nelson were taken to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. After releasing Bielstein and Nelson to deputies, the arresting officer checked the back seat of his patrol car and discovered a small bag containing six white pills near the area where Bielstein had been seated. The pills were determined to be hydrocodone.

Bielstein was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule II controlled substance and first-degree forgery. Nelson was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.

Other recent incidents investigated by the Gwinnett County Police Department include:

Dec. 6

• Entering auto in the 3900 block of Jim Moore Road.

Dec. 7

• Theft by taking in the 2500 block of Betty Sue Drive.
• Theft of tag in the 2700 block of Old Peachtree Road.
• Identity fraud in the 1900 block of Lee Patrick Drive.

Dec. 8

• .
• Theft by taking in the 3700 block of Braselton Highway.

Dec. 9

• Marijuana possession near the intersection of Auburn Road and Daniel Park Drive.
• Identity fraud in the 1100 block of Tumlin Court.

Dec. 10

• Criminal attempt of arson in the 4400 block of Mill Farm Lane.
• Marijuana possession in the 1500 block of Smoke Hill Drive.
• Vandalism in the 2600 block of Hillgrove Drive.
• Arson in the 1000 block of Fairview Club Circle.

Dec. 11

• Simple battery in the 2700 block of Fort Apachee Trail.
• Battery in the 4600 block of Braselton Highway.
• Burglary in the 4400 block of Water Mill Drive.
• Simple assault in the 1700 block of Holman Road.
• Simple battery in the 1200 block of Dacula Road.
• Vandalism in the 1000 block of Tributary Way.
• Criminal attempt theft of tag in the 200 block of Hebron Church Road.

Dec. 12

• Simple battery in the 200 block of Dacula Road.
• Simple battery in the 900 block of Redstone Road.

Dec. 13

• Simple assault in the 1800 block of Clear Springs Lane.
• Motor vehicle theft in the 2000 block of Whitley Road.

Dec. 14

• Robbery in the 1300 block of Ivey Pointe Drive.

 For questions about this blotter, email dacula@patch.com.