A Lakeview area woman, 54-year-old Penny Juanita Whitson, has been returned to the Baxter County Detention Center for allegedly smuggling drugs into the jail where she was held earlier this month.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says Whitson was first booked into the Detention Center on September 6th on drug charges and was placed, after processing, into the female housing pod. The following day, jailers conducting a search of the female housing unit found approximately 4.2 grams of methamphetamine and six Diazepam pills in a cell assigned to Whitson. These items were seized and taken into evidence, initiating a criminal inquiry.
Investigators uncovered evidence that Whitson had smuggled the drugs into the Detention Center, concealed in a body cavity, when she was arrested and brought in on September 6th. She was released on September 14th.
Friday morning, investigators went to the home of the parolee to arrest her on additional charges related to the smuggling of drugs into the county jail. After knocking on the door of the residence, investigators observed Whitson moving about inside, and they believed she was attempting to destroy evidence. Entry was made, and Whitson was taken into custody.
A search of the residence was conducted, with various articles of drug paraphernalia associated with the use and distribution of methamphetamine found and seized.
Whitson was booked into the Detention Center on two felony counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and furnishing, possessing, or using prohibited articles, as well as an enhanced penalty as a habitual offender and a misdemeanor count.
Her bond was set at $25,000, and she is set to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court in October.
Friday’s arrest marks the 23rd time since 1998 Whitson has been booked into the county jal.
Assisting the Sheriff’s Office Friday were the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Arkansas State Police – Criminal Investigation Division.
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