DECATUR -- Benton County sheriff's deputies, with the assistance of the Decatur Police Department, executed a "no-knock" search warrant at 494 Hill Ave., in Decatur, on Thursday, and arrested five on charges related to the possession of illegal drugs.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with the Benton County Circuit Court, Benton County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division obtained the search warrant after an extensive investigation.
According to the affidavit, members of the BCSO Special Weapons and Tactics Team executed the search warrant Thursday evening. Brian Cox and Joseph "Scott" Campbell were located and detained in the shop building on the west side of the Hill Avenue property. A bag containing methamphetamine was located in the wallet of Cox and Cox was arrested.
When the SWAT team forced entry into the residence, Michael and Eleisha Conway were detained in the kitchen area. A glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue was found in Michael's pants pocket, leading to his arrest, the affidavit said.
Fonda Hughes was called out of the downstairs master bedroom area and detained. A search of the master bedroom yielded a one-gram bag of marijuana, seven firearms, a cut straw with suspected methamphetamine residue, two containers containing methamphetamine with one being in Hughes' purse and with her name on the bottle, the affidavit said. At that time, Joseph Scott Campbell and Fonda Hughes were notified of their arrest.
Jaquelyn "Jackie" Vernon and a 4-year-old child were in the dining room. She told detectives she was staying with Brian Cox in the guest bedroom. A small amount of marijuana in a cigarette pack was found in Jackie Vernon's purse and she was arrested. A search of the guest bedroom yielded tin foil with methamphetamine residue.
The Department of Human Services was notified and recommended that the child be released to a family member, according to the affidavit.
The search of the upstairs bedroom, identified as Michael Conway's room, yielded cut straws with suspected methamphetamine residue, a metal pipe with suspected marijuana residue and a bag containing white powder which was thought to be a cutting agent for methamphetamine, the affidavit said.
Eleisha Conway was released and all the other individuals were transported to the Benton County Detention Center where they were held for bond hearings, the affidavit said.
According to the affidavit, in subsequent recorded interviews, Brian Cox admitted to owning the methamphetamine found in his wallet and admitted to smoking methamphetamine from tin foil in the past; Michael Conway chose not to speak to officers without his attorney present; Joseph Scott Campbell admitted to using methamphetamine but said he was unsure if methamphetamine located in his gun safe belonged to him and denied ownership of marijuana found in Fonda's purse or items found in the guest bedroom; Fonda Hughes admitted owning the marijuana in Scott's room, the methamphetamine and paraphernalia found in her purse and denied ownership of any other illegal items found in the residence; and Jackie Vernon denied ownership of anything illegal at the residence including the marijuana found in her purse.
According to the affidavit, Brian Cox was arrested in connection with possession of a controlled substance and felony possession of drug paraphernalia; Michael Conway was arrested in connection with felony possession of drug paraphernalia; Joseph Campbell was arrested in connection with possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms; Fonda Hughes was arrested in connection with two counts of possession of a controlled substance (both methamphetamine and marijuana), and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Jackie Vernon was arrested in connection with possession of a controlled substance and felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bond for Campbell was set at $15,000 with his next appearance date on Nov. 22. Michael Conway, according to the Benton County Jail website, was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with $20,000 bond on the drug charges and an additional $75,000 bond on rape and sexual assault charges from an earlier case.
General News on 11/19/2014