MURPHY
Stop leads to 4 busts
Four people are facing meth charges thanks to their inability to drive safely.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday the arrests of Ericka Lynn Jordan, 39; Rex Henry Hall II, 51; David Harold Windle Jr., 44; and Melodie Ann Yocom, 38, all of Murphy, on a charge of trafficking in methamphetamine.
About 5 a.m. Sunday, a sheriff’s deputy observed a vehicle in which Jordan, Windle, Hall and Yocom occupied make several traffic violations and stopped it. During the traffic stop, the deputy formed probable cause, then located and seized a trafficking amount of meth. In addition, Hall was found to be in possession of brass knuckles.
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Hall was charged with possession of marijuana up to a half-ounce, felony trafficking in methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver-methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance on prison/jail premises, carrying a concealed firearm, carrying concealed weapon, drug paraphernalia not for marijuana and drug paraphernalia for marijuana. He received a $310,000 secure bond.
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Windle was charged with felony trafficking in methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver-methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia not for marijuana. He received a $310,000 secure bond.
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Yocom was charged with felony trafficking in methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver-methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia not for marijuana. She received a $310,000 secure bond.
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Jordan was charged with felony trafficking in methamphetamine, felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver-methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia not for marijuana. She received a $315,000 secure bond.
The first court appearance for the four people arrested is at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Cherokee County Courthouse.
“Good work by an alert deputy,” Chief Deputy Joe Wood said in a release. “We also thank Murphy police Officer May, who responded and assisted in the discovery and recovery of the methamphetamine as well as assisting in the arrest of the four drug traffickers. We also are appreciative of the bond that was given to the four.”
To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law, call 828-837-1344 or email a tip to crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.
MURPHY
2 charged with meth
Two local men were charged with trafficking methamphetamine after a search warrant was executed on April 11 by sheriff’s deputies.
The Cherokee County Narcotics Unit, while conducting an ongoing investigation of individuals suspected of distributing illegal narcotics, was able to establish that a residence owned by William Mark Clark, 50, and Kevin Dwayne Durden, 48, in Martins Creek was in possession of illegal narcotics and distributing them from there as well, according to a release.
Based on that information, deputies served a search warrant at 55 Notla Church Road, where a trafficking amount of methamphetamine along with other illegal narcotics were seized. At the time of the search, both Durden and Clark were present at the residence.
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Clark was incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center and charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, maintaining a place for a controlled substance and simple possession of a Schedule II controlled substance.
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Durden was incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center for and charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. The magistrate set a $50,000 bond for both men. They had their first hearings in Cherokee County District Court on Friday.
BRYSON CITY
2 plead guilty to child abuse
A man and his wife, former Swain County residents who now live in Caldwell County, pleaded guilty Thursday to neglect and child abuse charges stemming from severe injuries inflicted on a 4-year-old boy in their care, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said.
Daniel Crowder, 42, and Diane Crowder, 42, each pleaded guilty in Swain County Superior Court to three criminal charges: felony child abuse by negligently failing to seek medical treatment and that failure resulted in serious bodily injury and two counts misdemeanor child abuse.
Judge Peter Knight handed down identical sentences. He ordered the Crowders to each serve active terms in the N.C. Division of Adult Corrections of 25 months minimum to 42 months maximum, the most allowed for that charge under state law. He consolidated the misdemeanor child abuse charges for the purposes of sentencing, ordering an additional 75 days active time in Swain County’s jail upon release from state prison.
The child suffered permanent brain damage and, because of a spinal-cord injury, has difficulty walking, the release says. The Crowders were not the biological parents, but at that time, they were the primary caregivers.
In three months, between a visit to a health clinic with the biological father and the subsequent stay in the Crowder’s home, the child dropped from 58 pounds to 38 pounds. According to the doctor’s notes, he was an “alert, smiling, active and playful” child while at the health clinic.
Now age 10, the child has since been adopted. He continues to receive counseling, treatment and regular assessments.
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From staff reports.