A 40-year-old Mountain Home man and his 27-year-old wife both pled guilty to drug-related charges against them and were sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison on Friday.
Gerald Morris and Kaitlyn Morris both entered their pleas in Boone County Circuit Court. They were originally scheduled to enter pleas in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday but it was announced the plea taking would be done in Boone County. No particular reason for the switch was given.
Gerald Morris was given 30 years in prison and Kaitlyn Morris 25 years.
The latest case against Gerald Morris was opened in October 2019. He was charged with several counts of felony possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm.
When officers went to Morris’ residence in October 2019, they reported finding 186 grams of methamphetamine.
In addition to Gerald Morris and Kaitlyn Morris, two other people were arrested — 62-year-old Howard Johnson and 57-year-old Dawn Thompson were arrested.
Kaitlyn Morris is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence on an Izard County drug conviction. She is an inmate in the McPherson Unit of the state prison system at Newport. Howard Johnson was sentenced to 20 years in prison in early May. He is an inmate in the Ouachita River unit of the state prison system.
The charges against Dawn Thompson were dropped by the state, according to electronic court records.
Gerald Morris made a few court appearances in the late 2019 case and then disappeared. He was declared a fugitive August 6 last year. He was arrested on a failure to appear warrant the next month.
When officers went to his home along County Road 1008 seeking him on the FTA warrant, they found Gerald Morris and 61 grams of methamphetamine. The drug was located inside a wooden box hidden in the air conditioning vent in his bedroom.
Some of the drug was packaged in a way that indicated to investigators it was intended for sale.
In addition, items of drug paraphernalia were also seized.
During the various arrests, officers found other drugs beside methamphetamine in Gerald Morris’ house, including Fentanyl and several dosage units of LSD. A loaded handgun was also found along with $15,000 in cash. At the time, Gerald Morris listed himself as unemployed.
Several vehicles were seized.
Gerald Morris has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1999 — consisting mainly of drug-related charges.
Criminal cases were opened against him in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2016 and 2019.
Both Gerald and Kaitlyn Morris also face drug trafficking, drug possession and drug paraphernalia charges in Pulaski County as well.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI