News from May 4, 2006 issue
Painkillers
cause heartache
for 40 suspect drug pushers
Authorities were still looking for three individuals Tuesday who
were among 40 charged with drug trafficking in secret indictments
issued in April.
In the second major drug enforcement sweep in less than five months,
members of the Pennyrile Area Narcotics Task Force, Marion Police
Department, Crittenden County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky State
Police and Crittenden County constables have arrested 37 men and
women on charges of selling drugs, mostly prescription painkillers.
Det. Robbie Kirk of the narcotics task force said officers were
still trying to locate three individuals for whom indictments
had been issued. The indictments were handed down by a Crittenden
County Grand Jury on April 4 and had been kept sealed until early
Thursday morning when several law enforcement agencies began making
arrests at dawn.
Kirk said the indictments were based on evidence gathered during
undercover investigations. Most of the people arrested were first-time
offenders, the detective said and the vast majority are accused
of selling painkillers that were legally obtained through prescriptions.
Most involved the illegal selling of Lortab or Lorcet.
A normal prescription for such medication might commonly contain
180 to 250 pills, Kirk said. It would cost approximately $50-60
to fill the prescription legally. Then, the detective said, the
pills are individually sold at a street value of $5 per dose.
The profits from a single prescription can net the seller $800
to more than $1,000, Kirk explained.
"This is the drug problem in Crittenden County," the
detective said. "Right now methamphetamine is the drug that's
getting the most attention and most of the educational programs
are centering on, but here it's painkillers."
Users either take several doses of the medication or crush it
and dissolve it in water so that the drug can be injected into
the body with a needle and syringe, authorities said.
Kirk, who worked for about 18 years as a detective for the Kentucky
State Police, has been with the task force for about a year. He
said that Crittenden and Livingston counties were his primary
focus. Kirk also led the investigation in December that netted
almost 20 drug offenders.
"We thought that after those arrests we might see things
slow down in Crittenden County, but it hasn't phased them,"
Kirk said. "These types of investigations are going to continue.
This is not just a hit in December and a hit in April. We're going
to continue working in Crittenden County and actively pursuing
those who are trafficking in prescription drugs and narcotics."
The number of arrests doubled between December and April, Kirk
noted, and he anticipates another such increase in arrests this
summer and fall as a result of undercover drug buys.
"I don't think Crittenden County has a bigger drug problem
than any other county. I just think it's being actively pursued
now," explained the detective.
Kirk said he was pleased with the court system's handling of the
cases brought against those individuals arrested in December.
He said local prosecutors are working closely with law enforcement
to help reduce the drug activity in Crittenden County.
SEE THIS WEEK'S PRINTED EDITION FOR AN UPDATE ON THE DECEMBER
DRUG BUST: Learn where the cases are now in the court system.
Kirk said modern technology has helped undercover investigators.
Surveillance equipment and digital audio and video evidence gathering
devices are making it harder for criminals to get away with their
crimes.
He said a solid case starts with good evidence. From there, Kirk
said, prosecutors have a better chance to making sure justice
is served.
One of the defendants from the December drug raid, was arrested
again last week. Police records show that Michael E. Hillyard,
47, was serving time in the Calloway County Jail after pleading
guilty to trafficking in marijuana in December. Now, he faces
a charge of trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000
yards of a school. The warrant was served on Hillyard in the Calloway
Jail.
Kirk said that charges against repeat offenders are enhanced.
He said jail time is not the remedy in every situation. For first-time
offenders, jail time is rare.
"But after they're arrested once, they are under gun to straighten
up," Kirk said. "And that's the ultimate goal to help
them stop drugs and stop being a drug offender."
Arrests from sealed
indictments issued in April and served last week.
·Christy R. Lee, 32, 112 Brookcliff Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree and trafficking in a controlled
substance 3rd degree.
·Brant Tabor, 33, 319 West Gum Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree, trafficking in a controlled
substance 2nd degree, trafficking in a controlled substance within
1,000 yards of school and persistent felony offender 2nd degree.
·Rachel Tabor, 319 West Gum Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree, trafficking in a controlled
substance 2nd degree and trafficking in a controlled substance
within 1,000 yards of a school.
·Edith Rose Williams, 39, 845 Fords Ferry Road, Marion,
trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Ricky Sutton, 48, 535 East Bellville Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree and trafficking in a controlled
substance 3rd degree, trafficking in a controlled substance and
persistent felony offender 2nd degree.
·Phillip Sitar, 36, 239 Travis Street, Marion, two counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Gordon Hatt, 34, 409 North Maple Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Pat Asbridge, 38, 120 Blackbird Lane, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree.
·Elisha Bivens, 25, 120 Blackbird Lane, Marion, Trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree
·Tammy Reed, 30, 211 Travis Street, Marion, two counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Oliver Williams, 35, 107 Seeley Lane, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree and trafficking in a controlled
substance 3rd degree.
·Steven L. Davis, 28, 2175 U.S. 641, Marion, two counts
trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Angela Lorween, 26, 423 South Main Street, Marion, two
counts of Trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Debbie Thurby, 48, 106 Sturgis Road, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree.
·Amy Hamby, 34, Apt. 104 C Creekside, Marion, two counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree and persistent
felony offender 2nd degree.
·Lonnie Moore, 34, 115 Redbird Court, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Bill Perkins, 67, 104 Sturgis Road, Marion, two counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Sunshine M. Driver, 30, 211 Travis Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Rose Marie Davis, 50, 2197 U.S. 641, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Patricia Knight, 35, 252 Levias Road, Marion, sale or
transfer simulated substance.
·Shawn Belt, 35, 120 Arleen Street, Marion, two counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of
a school.
·Olin Rogers, 69, 510 Henry Road, Fredonia, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree and trafficking in a controlled
substance 2nd degree.
·Rita Cummings, 48, 211 Jarvis Street, Marion, two counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree and persistent
felony offender 2nd degree.
·Chad Copeland, 19, 805 North Weldon Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree and trafficking in a controlled
substance 2nd degree.
·Tommy Williams, 36, 125 Redbird Court, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Rita Freels, 48, 1172 Zion Cemetery Road, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree and trafficking in a controlled
substance 2nd degree.
·Jackie Hrapeck, 44, 1140 Fords Ferry Road, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Mary Barnes, 43, 4197 Fords Ferry Road, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Debra Woods, 42, 2175 U.S. 641, Marion, two counts of
trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Chris Walker, 43, 116 1/2 Lewis Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Paul Jason Faith, 30, 331 Repton Cemetery Road, Marion,
trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a
school.
·Stacy Sutton, 71, 2287 SR 902, Dycusburg, three counts
of trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Margie Perkins, 40, 411 North Adams, Sturgis, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Dennis Moss, 43, 231 North Weldon Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 1st degree.
·Melissa Haverstick, 33, 116 1/2 Lewis Street, Marion,
trafficking in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Cyrstal Curnel, 27, 1172 Zion Cemetery Road, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance 2nd degree.
·Michael Hillyard, 47, 535 Bellville Street, Marion, trafficking
in a controlled substance within 1,000 yards of a school.
Drug forum draws very few
If silence is an indication of support, there appears to be very
little opposition to a proposed drug-testing policy at Crittenden
County High School. Only about 20 people turned out Monday night
for a public forum designed to explain the school system's plans
to drug test student athletes, those who participate in extra-
or co-curricular clubs and students who drive to school.
Bonita Hatfield, a retired teacher and member of the Crittenden
County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community, apologized for the
community's apparent apathy evidenced by poor attendance.
"Half as many people turned out as were arrested in last
Thursday's drug roundup," Hatfield said, comparing the crowd
to the 40 people arrested last week by law enforcement officials,
some of whom sat on Monday night's panel.
Superintendent John Belt said he has received two emails threatening
litigation and calling him a Nazi for considering the drug policy.
He said after the meeting that one negative phone call has been
received at the central office from a parent who said their children
would be removed from the school system if the policy is adopted.
The purpose of the meeting was to inform members of the public
namely parents of the board's intentions of adopting
a drug testing policy that will take effect in August. Of those
in attendance, none spoke negatively of the proposal.
Law enforcement, school and court representatives spoke on the
status of the drug problem from their respective points of view.
Cheyenne Albro, director of the Pennyrile Area Narcotics Task
Force, said in a 13-month period, 110 drug cases have been investigated
in Crittenden County, with the majority being for illegal prescription
drugs.
CCHS principal Karen Nasseri said prescription drugs are the most
common problem she sees, because they are most accessible by students.
"People have a tendency to believe that rural areas are protected
from the drug problem, but the same drugs are here as everywhere
else," Albro said. "Drugs are just as bad here, by population,
as they are in New York, Miami and Los Angeles."
He and District Judge Tommy Simpson commended the school board's
proactive approach to the drug problem.
"I'm impressed with the stand they are taking," Albro
said.
While some details of the screening policy have not been determined,
the board has decided who will be screened through highly private
random urine tests. The school system plans to contract with a
company from outside the community to administer the tests. Belt
said students who test positive will not face school disciplinary
action; rather, they will lose playing time or privileges related
to their school activity.
Rationale for the policy is both a health issue and deterrent
for drug use, Belt said.
"We look at this as a way to provide students with another
tool to say no, a tool to resist smoking a joint because they
could test positive in a random test it is our obligation
as educators," he said. "The best argument for the policy
is it is a deterrent."
Parent Sheila Tabor asked whether parents will be able to give
permission to include their child in the drug-testing pool even
if they are not among the targeted population. Board member Red
Howton has attended several meetings relating to drug testing
policies and confirmed that parents may subject their child to
the testing.
Belt explained that all athletes will be screened upon the start
of each athletic season then assigned numbers which will be drawn
electronically at random throughout the year. Only athletes will
be pre-screened, which Belt explains is for health and safety
reasons. Student drivers and those in other clubs will not be
pre-screened.
Al Starnes, CCHS football coach and school safety coordinator,
says he was against the drug-testing policy when he began coaching
here in the mid-1990s, because then the target group included
only athletes.
"Athletes aren't just the ones who take drugs or are influencing
others," Starnes said before sharing his personal story of
how drugs claimed the life of his brother, Raymond, at age 15.
Judge Simpson said the benefit of drug screens is evident from
Drug Court, where random tests are administered and are an effective
deterrent.