Drug sweep nets 42 on meth-related charges

A coordinated sweep by Jackson County lawmen with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal Service and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources officers which began at 5 a.m. Monday morning has arrested 42 individuals on methamphetamine-related drug charges.

The arrests followed a special grand jury session Thursday and Friday that returned sealed indictments against a total of 51 individuals.

The investigation that led to the special grand jury session and sealed indictments was multi-jurisdictional and spanned nine months, according to Chief Deputy Bruce DeWees of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Officers of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police Troopers and Ravenswood Police Department and Ripley Police Department officers all participated in Monday’s operation that resulted in mass arrests on warrants.

Four of those indicted were already incarcerated on other charges. A few of those charged turned themselves in when word began to spread of the massive sweep and arrests.

“This is the first time in my 31 years of law enforcement here that we’ve called a special grand jury,” said Sheriff Mike Bright. “I think this will really hit a good lick and make an impact on methampetamine trafficking in our county.

“Meth is the worst drug I’ve seen and I’ve dealt with everything including heroin in my career. Meth ingredients are so accessible. And once you’re on it, you can’t get yourself off it no matter what you try. You either have to get professional help or it’s going to kill you,” Bright continued.

“This won’t solve our drug problems here completely or the prescription drug problem we have that really concerns me, but it will really have an impact on meth.”

(See below for the names of those arrested along with charges.)

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ORIGINAL WEB STORY

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department, in cooperation with the West Virginia State Police, US Marshal Service, Ravenswood and Ripley Police Departments and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, conducted an early morning warrant sweep today arresting dozens of Jackson County residents on multiple meth-related felony charges. 

This morning's arrests capped a nine-month investigation by mulitple law enforcement agencies working in cooperation.

Last week, prosecutors conducted a special Grand Jury session that returned numerous indictments which were sealed pending the arrest of the indicted individuals. 

Complete details, including names and charges, will be available online as news breaks as well as in the Tuesday, July 21 edition of The Jackson Herald.

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UPDATE - 12:30 p.m.

The following individuals had been arrested and charged as of 10:00 a.m. Monday morning:

•    John Schindler was indicted on nine felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and nine felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Collie Gentry was indicted on ten felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Timothy Miller was indicted on four felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and four felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Daniel Caldwell was indicted on six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Alexandra Meador was indicted on three felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and three felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Larry Thompson was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine lab, one felony count of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (methamphetamine). 

•    Roger Hinzman was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine lab, five felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, two felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor that has been altered or converted from the state they were commercially distributed, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and nine felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    James Coiner was indicted on nine felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and nine felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Matthew Tuttle was indicted on six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Joy Alderman was indicted on four felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and four felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Patricia McFall was indicted on fourteen felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and fourteen felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Andrea Stutler was indicted on six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Zachery Capps was indicted on two felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Yancey Easthom was indicted on eight felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and eight felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Clifford Dale Easthom, Jr., was indicted on four felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and four felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Tiffany Stalnaker was indicted on five felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Barry G. Thompson was indicted on five felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Brent Tribett was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine laboratory, 47 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance and 47 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. 

•    John Boyd was indicted on three felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and three felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Brooke Tribett was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine laboratory, six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance and eight felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Ronald L. Kay, Jr., was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine lab, four felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Pamela Redman was indicted on eight felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and eight felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Raechel Conn was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine laboratory,  one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Timothy A. Doyle was indicted on 57 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and 57 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Candy Benson, aka Candy Stone, was indicted on nine felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and nine felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Autumn Kessel was indicted on two felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Michael Stone was indicted on five felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Lawrence Wilfong was indicted on 31 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and 31 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    James Catron was indicted on six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Stacey Catron was indicted on 12 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and 12 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Megan LaCava was indicted on 14 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and 14 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Jessica Sullivan was indicted on eight felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and eight felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Willie West was indicted on one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Danielle LaCava was indicted on ten felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and 11 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Gretchen Bragg was indicted on 18 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and 18 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Peggy Sue Caruthers was indicted on 21 felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and 21 felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.
 

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UPDATE - 3:00 p.m.

The following individuals have also been arrested in Monday's law enforcement action:

•    Richard Cooper was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine laboratory, five felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, two felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor that has been altered or converted from the state they were commercially distributed, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance, and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Donald Carter was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine laboratory, five felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver (methamphetamine), and seven felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Jennifer Vannest was indicted on seven felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and seven felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Bootie Bowen was indicted on six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Stacey Flowers was indicted on one felony count of attempt to operate a clandestine laboratory, one felony count of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.

•    Janice Abels was indicted on six felony counts of possession of substances to be used as a precursor to manufacture methamphetamine and six felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.