RICHLAND CO.— It is unclear if Lawrence County lawmen have dopers in their area so worried about getting caught that they have taken to doing their doper deeds across the county line, or if Richland lawmen are just better at catching them once they cross it.
Either way, the Lawrence drug community has taken a serious hit thus far this year, many of their kind finding themselves behind bars in neighboring Richland County along with their brethren in the illicit drug trade.
Bridgeport hydrocodone
A traffic stop netted Olney lawmen a drug possession arrest by a driver out of Bridgeport.
According to information filed in the case, on May 22, Michelle L. Howk, 40, of the 1100 block of School St., Bridgeport, was stopped in the 1100 block of South West Street, in Olney, at 1:52 a.m. while operating a 2006 red Dodge truck.
Subsequent to that stop she is said to have been found with an unspecified amount of hydrocodone on her person.
She was taken into custody and formally charged with a single count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Her criminal history includes a Lawrence County arrest in 2013 during which she was charged in two separate cases with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and two counts of Forgery.
She pleaded guilty in May 2013 to one of the forgery charges in Lawrence and to a single count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance in Richland in return for the remainder of the charges being dismissed and a sentence to IDOC for five years and an order to pay $1,642 in fines and fees, of which she has paid nothing.
Apparently in no danger of learning from her mistakes, Howk was convicted September 30, 2015 of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and sentenced back to IDOC for two years and ordered to pay $1,471 in fines and fees, of which she hasn’t paid the first dime.
Howk, all 5-foot-6-inches and 160 pounds of her, was released from police custody June 1 on a $10,000 recognizance bond, thanks to the Bond Reform Act, which allows a person charged with Class 3 or 4 felony to avoid having to put up any cash. The “recog” part means that the accused promises to bring herself to court under threat of actually having a bond imposed the next time if he fails to appear…which FTAs happen, but because of Bond Reform Act, FTA, too, is a BRA offense and a person can keep being released on it, with the county incurring expense and never even collecting the 10 percent on each bond posted.
Bridgeport meth
Taken into custody in the wee hours of the morning on May 22 with Howk was Jennifer N. McDaniel, 29, of the 8900 block of King Hill Rd., Bridgeport.
McDaniel was charged with a single count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine after authorities say she was found to have on her person less than five grams of meth.
The 5-foot-7, 109-pound McDaniel was released from police custody June 1 on a $10,000 recognizance bond.
On her bond sheet she listed 719 Lexington Ave., Bridgeport, as her current residence.
Lawrence doper delivering meth
A former Lawrence County woman has been charged with being a suspected drug dealer.
Details filed in the case allege that on or about May 27, at 502 South Polk St., Olney, Felicia Marie Harmon, 27, of the 5200 block of North Primrose Rd., Olney, committed the offense of Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine when she knowingly delivered or possessed with intent to deliver less than five grams of the drug.
Harmon was also charged with a single count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
Formerly of Vincennes, Ind. and Flat Rock, Harmon’s criminal history includes a December 20, 2012 conviction for Burglary and Theft, which earned her a sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections for two years and cost her $2,269 in fines and fees.
An April 28, 2015 conviction for Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia resulted in a sentence of court supervision for 18 months and cost her another $658 in fines and fees.
Harmon also has a felony conviction out of Lawrence County from December 20, 2017 when she was found guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance for which she was sentenced to probation for 24 months and ordered to pay $3,128 in fines and fees, of which she still owes $1,628.
On June 1 she was released from Richland County custody on a recognizance bond and handed over to Lawrence County, where state’s attorney Michael Strange filed a petition to revoke her probation (which the Richland arrest violated) and an arrest warrant was issued.
She was released from Lawrence County custody on June 14 after the posting of a $2,961 cash bond.
At last on the Lawrence County case Harmon was said to be trying to get into inpatient rehab.
She is due back in court in Lawrence and Richland counties later this month.
Sumner convicted meth cook
The next day, May 28, at 9:54 p.m. Dionna L. Earnst, 46, of 601 South May St., Sumner, was taken into custody at US Rte. 50 and East Street, in Olney, and charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine after authorities say she was found to have on her person less than five grams of the drug.
She was also charged with one count of Public Intoxication.
Formerly of St. Francisville, Earnst’s Lawrence County criminal history includes an arrest March 25, 2000 during which she was charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Amphetamine and two counts of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
She pleaded guilty June 5, 2000 to the meth possession charge and was sentenced to the IDOC for three years and ordered to pay $175.
One year later, June 5, 2002, she was found guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and sentenced back to IDOC for two years and ordered to pay $226 in fines and fees.
On February 26, 2006 she was charged with Methamphetamine Manufacturing 900+ grams.
She pleaded to an amended charge of Methamphetamine Manufacturing less than 15 grams and was sentenced to IDOC for another four years and ordered to pay $2,462 in fines and fees.
A conviction May 6, 2008 earned her a sentence to court supervision for 12 months and cost her another $1,743 in fines and fees.
Apparently in no danger of being burdened with a high IQ, Earnst was convicted yet again on January 13, 2010 of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and sent back to IDOC for on a sentence of two years and ordered to pay $820 in fines and fees.
She was convicted June 25, 2013 of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and sentenced to conditional discharge for two years and ordered to pay $1,185 in fines and fees.
Another Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia conviction November 25, 2014 earned her a sentence to conditional discharge for 12 months and cost her another $1,212.
Earnst, who comes in at 5-foot-8 and 110 pounds, was released from Richland County police custody June 1 on a $10,000 (no money) recognizance bond.
Olney drug dealer? and Greenup housemate
Later that same day, an Olney man was taken into custody and charged with being a drug dealer.
Details filed in the case allege that on or about May 28 at 7:39 p.m., Brian P. Davis, 37, of the 1200 block of North Morgan St., Olney, committed the offense of Unlawful Delivery Possession of Methamphetamine, when he was found at his residence in possession of less than five grams of the drug.
Davis is also charged with a single count of Unlawful Possession with Intent to Deliver a Look-Alike Substance.
Davis was released from police custody June 18 on a $5,000 recognizance bond.
Apparently Davis wasn’t alone at the North Morgan Street address.
Taylor M. Jodry, 20, who also resided at that address, was also taken into custody and charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, less than five grams.
Jodry was released from police custody May 30 after a $5,000 cash bond was posted on her behalf by Nancy Cook, of 101 West Cincinnati St., Greenup.
On her bond sheet Ms. Jodry listed the 101 West Cincinnati St., Greenup address as her residence.
There is no word on what sent authorities to Davis’ home in the first place.
Both are expected back in court later this month.
Higgin Switch meth
Two days later, May 30, an Olney woman, awaiting trial in two separate counties on drug possession charges, was busted.
Details in that case indicate that on or about May 30, Teresa N. Schoonover, 32, of 5605 North Higgin Switch Rd., Olney, was taken into custody and charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine after police say, while at the intersection of York Street and Silver Street, in Olney, she was found to have on her person less than five grams of the drug.
Schoonover was released from Richland police custody on June 4 after the posting of a $1,500 cash bond.
Twenty-three days later, June 27, Schoonover was arrested in Jasper County on a meth possession charge (see related story).
Olney woman charged as drug dealer
An Olney woman charged with being a drug dealer has been released on a recognizance bond.
Details in the case indicate that on June 13, Carlie J. Rule, 35, of East Main St., Olney, was taken into custody at her residence and charged with a single count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver.
The charge alleges that she was found to have on her person or in her control more than five to 15 grams of meth.
Two days later she was released from police custody on a $3,000 recognizance bond.
She is due back in court later this month.
Suspected Noble drug dealer busted
Rule wasn’t the only one busted June 13.
Amanda Harrington, 31, of 328 South Palmer St., Noble, was taken into custody in the wake of a traffic stop at 4:20 p.m. that day while operating a 2007 gray Chevrolet passenger car on South West and West North streets, in Olney.
During that stop police say they discovered less than five grams of meth on her person, garnering her a single charge of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
Harrington’s criminal history includes an arrest November 29, 2006 during which she was charged with Unlawful Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Manufacturing Materials, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine Precursor, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Production of Methamphetamine 4000-900 grams and Aggravated Unlawful Production of Methamphetamine in a Protected Area 400+ grams.
On August 24, 2007 she pleaded guilty to the meth possession charge in return for the remainder of the charges being dismissed and a sentence to probation for 24 months and $2,270 in fines and fees.
At the time of her most recent arrest Harrington was awaiting trial in a November 5, 2017 case in which she is charged with Unlawful Methamphetamine Delivery and Unlawful Possession of Any Substance with Intent to Deliver.
Harrington is also a meth felon out of Jasper County after having been found guilty in 2012 of meth possession and meth manufacturing.
Cash bond in her Richland County case was set at $5,000.
Earnst meth
Seven days later June 20, a pair of seemingly unrelated drug arrests took place in Olney.
Given the tight circle dopers tend to run in some wonder if any of the cases are ever really unrelated.
Dustin K. Earnst, 36, of the 2000 block of County Highway 3, Mt. Erie, was taken into custody at the intersection of Summit Street and Morgan Street, in Olney, and charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
He was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe.
Whether or not he is related to the above previously-mentioned Earnst is unknown.
What is known is that his Richland County criminal history includes a conviction May 7, 2003 for felony Bad Check, which ultimately earned him a sentence to IDOC for two years and cost him $3,383.47 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $1,032.47.
Cash bond in his most recent case was set $3,000.
$10,000 cash bond set for repeat offender
Repeat drug felon Travis W. Stucker, 36, of the 300 block of West North Ave., Olney, was also arrested that same day.
Stucker was taken into custody at his residence and found to have on his person or in his control less than five grams of meth.
He was booked into the county jail on a single count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
Stucker’s criminal history includes a February 19, 2009 conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, for which he was sentenced to IDOC for three years and ordered to pay $1,499 in fines and fees.
He was arrested again January 17, 2013 and charged with Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.
He pleaded guilty to the possession charge on August 8, 2013 and was ultimately sentenced to IDOC for another two years and ordered to fork over another $3,198.53 in fines and fees, of which he still owes $1,648.53.
What lead authorities to Stucker’s door in the first place is unclear.
Cash bond in his most recent case was set at $10,000.