May 4 2006

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.