When Lauren Jernigan and a co-defendant, 34-year-old Bobby Joe Gray, were arrested in September last year a substantial quantity of illegal drugs, including almost 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 18 pounds of marijuana, were found in the house they shared.
The 33-year-old Jernigan appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Monday and pled guilty to a charge of tampering with physical evidence and was sentenced to five-years probation.
Gray, who investigators report was the major player in the drug operation, entered a guilty plea in a federal case stemming from that arrest on February 24. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised released.
Gray is appealing the sentence to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis. His attorney had asked the court for a sentence of no more than 180 months. In documents prepared prior to his sentencing, Gray’s attorneys argued that his drug use and family life combined to put him with groups who were “gang like” and, most often, drug users.
The document indicated that Gray started drinking at nine, smoking marijuana at 10 and graduating to methamphetamine at 12. Because of the type people with whom he associated, Gray is alleged to have seen a good friend shot dead in front of him when he was 14. The incident was said to have caused “a downward spiral” and increased his use of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and various opiates.
Currently, Gray is being held in a detention facility by the U.S. Marshal’s Service, according to federal court records.
14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge said Gray’s Baxter County case has been closed now that the federal case is in its final stages.
Jernigan did not have federal charges brought against her, only those filed by the state.
STARTED WITH HOME VISIT
The arrests of both Gray and Jernigan stemmed from a visit by probation/parole officers. They came to Gray’s residence located along State Highway 126 near Midway to conduct a compliance visit on September 8 last year.
The officers called the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office for backup when Gray refused to open the door to allow entry into the residence.
When additional deputies arrived, Gray bolted out the back door carrying a blue backpack. He was quickly apprehended.
In addition to the large quantity of methamphetamine and marijuana found inside and outside the residence, a smaller amount of fentanyl and 88 concentrated THC vape cartridges were located. THC is the major psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s office, the seized drugs had a street value of almost $600,000.
At one point, Gray is alleged to have told officers that the almost 11 pounds of methamphetamine seized at his residence was part of what had been a 50-pound shipment.
In addition, officers took into evidence more than $5,000 in cash, digital scales and a Glock Model 19 handgun.
Officers also reported to have seized several vehicles.
The tampering charge was filed only against Jernigan several days after Gray was arrested. She was accused of attempting to hide what was described as a “transaction ledger” to prevent officers from taking it as evidence.
The ledger, which is reported to contain names and “pay/owe” information on drug transactions, was being kept with other evidence in a backroom of Gray’s residence.
One of the investigators said after officers returned to the sheriff’s office, it was discovered the ledger was not with the other items collected.
When listening to a recorded telephone conversation between Gray who was by then an inmate at the had been locked up and Jernigan who was not yet in jail, it was discovered she had gone into the room and removed the ledger from the other evidentiary items.
According to the probable cause affidavit, she reported to Gray during the call that she had hidden the ledger.
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