by KENNETH FRY, Press Argus-Courier Editor Wednesday, September 13, 2006 10:09 AM CDT
A Winslow man accused of growing marijuana has been sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Loyd Dickson Pense, 35, pleaded guilty on Monday in Crawford County Circuit Court to charges of manufacture of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Judge Gary R. Cottrell sentenced Pense to 10 years in prison for manufacture of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The sentences will run concurrently and Cottrell authorized boot camp for Pense.
Once released from prison, Pense will be on a 10-year suspended sentence on the possession of marijuana with intent to deliver sentence. Cottrell suspended Pense's driver's license for six months and authorized a $1,500 reporting bond.
Two failure to appear charges were dismissed.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert Presley said law enforcement officers in August 2005 observed 12 marijuana plants growing in a fence area on Winfrey Valley Road.
Presley said police then set up a hidden camera and videoed Pense water and cultivating the plants from August to October 2005. When a search warrant was executed at the residence, police found 5.7 pounds of processed marijuana.
Presley said Pense gave a voluntary statement to police.
Other sentences handed down Monday by Cottrell were:
Kinda May Davenport, 38, of Fort Smith pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and had a 10-year prison sentence suspended for 10 years on the condition she spent nine months at a regional correctional facility where she will complete the long-term drug treatment program. Fines and court costs will be satisfied by the prison sentence. Davenport was arrested after a traffic stop by Van Buren police.
Shanna Janelle Hawkins, 29, of Fort Smith pleaded no contest to forgery in the second degree and had a five-year prison sentence suspended on the condition she pay $6,322.24 restitution, jointly and severely, and $150 court costs. Hawkins was arrested Sept. 8, 2005, accused of cashing counterfeit checks at several Crawford County businesses.
Donny Glenn Tabor, 36, of Mulberry and Elaine Mary Hernandez, 40, of Alma were found guilty of two counts of delivery of methamphetamine. It is alleged that Tabor and Hernandez sold meth to a confidential informant in a controlled buy for the Arkansas State Police in June 2004. Tabor was sentenced to 20 years in prison with an additional 20-year suspended sentence to run consecutively. Hernandez was sentenced to 10 years in prison with an consecutive 10-year suspended sentence.
Kelly Tucker, 24, of Alma was found guilty of possession of methamphetamine, public intoxication and obstructing governmental operations and was placed on three years adult probation. She must pay a $1,000 fine, $150 court costs and $250 for DNA sampling, perform 30 days of community service and attend two Narcotics Anonymous meetings a week for one year. Tucker was arrested Dec. 5, 2005, after being stopped for speeding by Van Buren police.
Johnny Lee Gartrell, 43, of Fort Smith was found guilty of non-support, alleging he owes $18,437.06 in back child-support payment. He had a nine-year prison sentence suspended on the condition he pay $150 court costs and $250 DNA sampling fee within 90 days. He is to add $100 a month to his child-support payments.
Michael Joseph Demaro, 30, of Inola, Okla., was found guilty of driving while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no liability insurance and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with nine years suspended on the condition he pay a $400 fine and $300 court costs. The one year will be spent at a regional correctional facility and he was given credit for jail time served. Demaro was arrested March 19, 2005, after an ASP trooper stopped him for running off the roadway on U.S. 71.
Stacy McKenzie, 42, of Van Buren was found guilty of filing a false police report and had a three-year prison sentence suspended on the condition she pay $1,200 restitution, $1,500 fine, $150 court costs and $250 for DNA sampling. McKenzie was accused of reporting to police that her boat was stolen on Sept. 28, 2005.
Kenneth Dale Jones, 34, and Carrie Larae Jones, 40, both of Van Buren were found guilty of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. The Jones were arrested by a sheriff's deputy after being stopped for a traffic violation. Kenneth Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a consecutive 10-year suspended sentence. Carrie Jones was placed on three years probation with a 10-year suspended sentence to follow. She is to pay a $1,000 fine, $150 court costs and $250 for DNA sampling and attend two NA meetings a week for a year.
Jamie Allen Johnston, 25, of Van Buren was found guilty of second offense domestic battery in the third degree, alleging he hit and bit his wife on Oct. 22, 2005. He had a three-year prison sentence suspended on the condition he be on adult probation for one year, pay a $500 fine, $150 court costs and $250 for DNA sampling and attend anger management classes.
Scott Allen Pomerleau, 39, of Monmouth, Maine was found guilty of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia and was sentenced with 20 years in prison with 10 years suspended with a boot camp recommendation. Pomerleau was arrested Dec. 5, 2005, by Cpl. Michael Bowman of the Van Buren Police Department after being stopped for speeding. Bowman found 81 pounds of marijuana in four duffel bags in the trunk.
James Thomas Hurt, 41, of Pensacola, Fla., was found guilty of theft by receiving and failure to register as a sex offender and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five years suspended. An additional 10-year suspended sentence will run consecutively. Hurt was accused of pawning stolen NASCAR and Match Box items on Jan. 25, 2005, and moving from a Van Buren residence without notifying authorities on April 13, 2005.
Kenneth Ray Ketchum, 40, of Van Buren was found guilty of theft of property and had a three-year prison sentence suspended on the condition he pay a $1,000 fine, $150 court costs and $250 for DNA sampling, be on adult probation for one year and be subject to random drug testing. Ketchum was accused of taking two rings from his sister's North 25th Street residence on Sept. 1, 2005.
Edward Clay Bell, 36, of Denton, Texas, was found guilty of non-support, alleging he owes $13,800 in child-support payments. Bell had a five-year prison sentence suspended on the condition he pay $150 court costs and $250 for DNA sampling, add $100 a month to his child-support payment and forfeit a $568 cash bond.
James Edward Flowers, 22, of Alma was found guilty of felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to six years in prison with five and one-half years suspended to run concurrently with a parole violation. Flowers was accused of firing a shotgun behind an Alma apartment complex on Aug. 13.
On Sept. 8:
Julie Diane Pulliam, 21, of Alma pleaded guilty of forgery in the second degree and was sentenced to one year at a regional correctional facility with an additional nine-year suspended sentence. She is to pay $2,535.74 restitution. Pulliam is accused of forging checks in August 2005 which were stolen from an Alma residence.
