Crime
A pair of drug busts hit Marshall County within a few hours of each other, both resulting from a traffic stop. On December 16, at around 1:30 a.m., Kingston Police Officer Brady Sims was patrolling the area near Titian Road. Sims observed a black car flashing their lights off and on.
Sims initiated a traffic stop, and made contact with two men identified as John Trantham and Casey Wallace. Sims requested both men’s identification and proof of insurance for the vehicle. After waiting some time for Trantham to produce the proof of insurance, Sims informed the men that the vehicle was going to be impounded.
Both men exited the vehicle, and stood in front of the patrol car. That is when Sims noticed two empty marijuana containers. Neither men were in possession of a medical marijuana card. Since finding the paraphernalia, Sims began to search the vehicle.
While searching the vehicle, Sims found two syringes and a small black handgun behind the
passenger’s seat. Sims then told Trantham what was found, and John said he did not know there was a gun or syringes in the car. Sims repeated his question and asked if there was anything else in the car.
Trantham asked that if he admitted to the drugs and gun, if Sims would release Wallace because he had just been released from prison.
Sims questioned Wallace and he said immediately that all the drugs belonged to Trantham, and that he had just “caught a ride.”
Sims put both men in his patrol car and returned to the suspect’s car. While searching, he found a bag with crystallike substance that later field tested positive for Meth. There was a backpack with multiple paraphernalia items in it – a digital scale with a crystallike substance on it, two cell phones with the numbers and passwords taped on the back, one spoon with a crystal-like substance, one small container with white residue that tested positive for Cocaine. The backpack also held a prescription box with forty-five Suboxone sublingual film, six bags of syringes, two plastic bags with smaller baggies in them, a Durant stockyard LLC check with the name scratched off.
John Trantham, a 35-yearold male from Durant was arrested on for Distributing Counterfeit CDS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. His priors listed are Distribution of a CDS, and Possession of CDS. He is also currently facing charges for Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Casey Wallace, a 31-yearold male from Claira was also arrested for Distribution of CDS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. An online search showed his priors were Second-Degree Burglary, Falsely Impersonating Another, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle After the Former Conviction of a Felony, Possession of CDS AFCF, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Concealing Stolen Property AFCF, Possession of a Firearm AFCF, Uttering a Forged Instrument AFCF, Resisting an Executive Officer, and Possession of CDS.
The Madill Police Department had a drug bust later that afternoon. Officer Alex Boren was dispatched to US 377 for a report of a reckless driver. Boren ran across the vehicle pulling into McDonald’s on Hwy 70, and shadowed it for a bit. Boren noticed the vehicle come to a stop near the rear of the parking lot.
Boren could not discern what was happening inside the cab of the truck. Fearing somebody might be having a medical episode, or a physical altercation, Boren approached the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Michael Shell, and the passenger, Aaron Stevens both told Boren they were looking for an address on 377, but did not have any luck.
Boren noticed Shell was twitching and could not sit still, and seemed nervous speaking with him. These actions made Boren suspicious of the occupants.
While waiting for the men’s identification, he noticed a female in the back of the truck – Sherry Covington. Observing all three occupants acting odd, Boren requested the K9 unit on scene. The K9 did an air sniff and made a hit on the vehicle.
Once the occupants exited the vehicle, Boren conducted a search of the inside of the vehicle. Upon inspection, Boren found a glass pipe with Meth residue in it. After reading the trio their Miranda right, two of the suspects pointed fingers at the third. “Ms. Covington insisted the pipe belonged to Mr. Stevens, though she stated she had a tendency to use Methamphetamines. Mr. Shell advised the officer the pipe belonged to Mr. Stevens though he did admit to using Methamphetamines with Mr. Stevens earlier on their trip from Texas to Oklahoma.”
Boren also found a baggie of Meth on Stevens, but he claimed it belonged to Shell. Steves stated he was holding them for Shell because he had two prior felony convictions.
Shell was arrested for DUI, Possession, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Trafficking. So far, he has only been charged with a DUI. No Oklahoma priors were found for him.
Stevens was arrested for Trafficking, Possession and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. As of yet, the only charge he has is Possession of CDS. No Oklahoma priors were found.
Covington was also arrested for Trafficking, Possession and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. So far, she has been formally charged with Possession of CDS. No Oklahoma priors were found.