Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says an alert secretary at the Sheriffs Administration Offices prompted an investigation Wednesday, ultimately resulting in the arrest of two Jordan area people on felony drug charges. The secretary was processing incoming mail for inmates when she noticed two suspicious postcards. The stamps on the postcards appeared to have a bulge under them and were positioned in a manner that allowed them to be easily peeled back and removed. An orange colored substance was found underneath each stamp. An investigator field tested the substance and found it to be an opiate, although the exact identification of the substance has not been determined.
The return address on the postcards came back to 765 County Road 215 in the Jordan area. An investigation at the residence resulted in the arrest of 52-year-old Dennis Lawton and 30-year-old Jessica Diane Lee. They both face multiple felony charges. Lee has a bond of $50,000 and Lawton’s bond is $15,000.
The Jordan address was traced back to Lawton, who is a parolee. An Investigator with the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force made contact with Lawton as well as with Lee. Lee is a probationer and currently residing at the same address. Lawton has a warrantless search waiver on file, and a search of the two and the home was conducted.
Investigators found approximately 6.6 grams of methamphetamine packaged in two separate plastic baggies, digital scales, and numerous baggies similar to the type often associated with the delivery of methamphetamine. Also found was a glass pipe, multiple syringes, Alprazolam pills, and a small amount of marijuana.
Lawton and Lee were both questioned about the postcards, and Lee allegedly admitted to sending the postcards to the jail inmate and placing the stamps on them, however she denied placing any controlled substance under the stamps.
Both were arrested and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center. The pair were charged with possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule four and six controlled substance, with purpose to deliver, and furnishing prohibited articles.
Lawton is also facing a penalty enhancement as a habitual offender. Court records show he has been booked into both Baxter and Izard County Detention Centers approximately eleven times total. Lee shows to have been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of seven times.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI