The largest single-day drug sweep in Texas County history put 45 people with drug ties behind bars.
Officers representing eight area departments executed warrants Monday on drug cases – representing 110 indictments – made the past 18 months by the South Central Drug Task Force. Fifty-eight warrants were issued by a grand jury impanelled for six months beginning in January.
All but four of the charges were for the sale or distribution of narcotics, including methamphetamine, prescription drugs and marijuana. Twenty-four suspects were charged with multiple distribution counts.
The suspects were arraigned the same day they were arrested. One was released on bail.
“We have been planning this for time,” Texas County Prosecutor Mike Anderson said, “and will have no problem with the extra volume of cases this generates.”
The sweep is the first since 40 suspects were arrested in August 2012 during what was previously the biggest one-day roundup in Texas County history. Prior to that, 39 arrests were made June 13, 1991, under Sheriff John Vandiver.
The Texas County Jail was beyond its 72-person capacity Monday night with 89 suspects housed. Sheriff James Sigman said several slept on cots or the floor. Four other suspects were located in other prisons –– three in the Department of Corrections and another in Phelps County.
The indictments were sealed by the court until Monday’s arrests.
“This is just one of the areas where the grand jury has been instrumental in improving the efficiency of the criminal justice system in Texas County,” Anderson said.
Texas County Sheriff James Sigman said his department will continue to seek people selling drugs in the community. He said the sale of prescription drugs is a growing issue.
“Texas County should be proud of their drug task force and area law enforcement agencies for their efforts in keeping our streets our communities a little safer,” Sigman said.
Arrested and charged during the sweep were:
-Robert Bartley, 56, Raymondville: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Mable Bloomer, 34, Raymondville: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Dave Bressie, 58, Raymondville: Four counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Jerrad Burks, 29, Licking: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Chasity Counts, 24, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Barbara Colgan, 43, Raymondville: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Steven Counts, 33, Raymondville: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Gary Couchman, 48, Raymondville: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-James Dickens, 22, Houston: Distributing less than five grams of marijuana.
-James Dodd, 34, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Roger Franklin, 53, Eunice: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Jeffery Friend, 22, Licking: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Ivan Gale, 21, Houston: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Alvey Gale, 53, Houston: Unlawful possession of a firearm.
-Parish Gale, 23, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Lennie Gale, 56, Houston: Five counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Bob Hamby, 57, Cabool: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Thomas Hamby, 33, Cabool: Three counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Steven Holden Jr., 28, Houston: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Mariah Hutsell, 18, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Michelle Houston, 45, Bucyrus: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Michael Jackson, 53, Licking: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Levi Johnson, 29, Licking: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Bobby Johnston, 59, Raymondville: Five counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Carolyn Koenig, 52, Licking: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Kenneth Lay III, 33, Houston: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Cheyenne Mourning, 36, Houston: Three counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Hazel Post, 51, Houston: Four counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Sally Porter, 51, Edgar Springs: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Karen Roberts, 52: Five counts of possession of marijuana and one count of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
-Joshua Routh, 29, Houston: Three counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Jennifer Royal, 25, Licking: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Penny Royal, 51, Licking: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Reginald Skouby, 58, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Betty Vestal, 54, Licking: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Christina Villareal, 43, Houston: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Jessie Villareal, 43, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Miles Wolf Jr., 36, Houston: Eight counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Nadatha Walker-Holt, 23, Houston: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Terry Walker, 36, Licking: Five counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Christine White, 37, Raymondville: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Kelly Williams, 35, Licking: One count of possession of synthetic cannabinoid.
-Robin Williams-Vest, 48, Houston: Three counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-James Woolsey, 24, Summersville: Two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
-Nathan Young, 27, Houston: One count of distribution of a controlled substance.
Along with the task force and patrol, sheriff’s departments in Texas and Wright counties along with police departments from Houston, Licking, Cabool and Summersville participated in the drug roundup.
Jared Routh, who was pictured in a photograph from the drug sweep, was not arrested as part of the roundup. He was brought in for not appearing in court for a non-related matter.