Local News
Alleged drug-dealing senior citizens arrested
By Patrick McCreless
PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM
Cullman narcotics investigators arrested two local senior citizens last week for allegedly drug dealing with their own prescription pain medication.
Sharon Lawrence, 66 and Glenda Murcks, 65, both of Nesmith Park Apartments, were each charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Both turned themselves over to authorities.
According to Cullman police reports, investigators with the Cullman County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) began investigating the two women about two months ago.
“It actually began after we received complaints from the apartment manager and neighbors,” said Narcotics Investigator David Nassetta. “They started noticing the type of people who didn’t live there visiting there frequently.”
Nassetta said during the investigation, several controlled buys were made from Lawrence and Murcks.
“As far as we could tell it was prescription medication they legitimately obtained from their doctors,” Nassetta said.
Among the drugs allegedly purchased from the two women were morphine, oxycodone and clonazetam.
“Oxycodone is really serious,” Nassetta said. “It’s meant for very serious pain treatment. It can cause a lot of serious health problems. And morphine is a highly addictive pill.”
Nassetta said he suspects the two women were working together to sell the drugs.
“I’m sure they both knew what the other one was doing,” he said. “They lived right next to each other. They had some of the same people visit them.”
Though he did not know how many pills Murcks and Lawrence might have sold over the past two months, Nassetta said typical pain medication prescriptions can be for between 30 and 90 pills. Nassetta added that such pain pills will typically sell for between $2 and $15 a piece.
Nassetta said CNET runs across similar prescription drug cases fairly regularly.
“Prescription drugs are a big problem countywide,” Nassetta said. “It’s definitely up there with the meth problem. It’s very common to find prescription drugs being used and sold along with meth.”
Lawrence and Murcks were incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center, but were later released on $35,000 bonds.
Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
- Local News
-
-
Farm family recognized at annual banquet
Sam and Cynthia Black and family were honored as the 2010 Farm family of the year at the annual Farm-City Banquet Thursday evening at the Cullman Civic Center.
-
Farm family recognized at annual banquet
Sam and Cynthia Black and family were honored as the 2010 Farm family of the year at the annual Farm-City Banquet Thursday evening at the Cullman Civic Center.
-
Annual Farm-City banquet Thursday at Cullman Civic Center
The Farm-City Banquet will be Thursday at the Cullman Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.
-
Commissioner takes Smith Lake water proposal to town council
County commissioner Wayne Willingham addressed West Point’s town council Monday evening regarding the county’s proposed Smith Lake water project.
-
LePard trial pushed to Dec.
The trial for Derrick LePard, a former Cold Springs teacher accused of extortion and attempting to produce obscene matter of a child, should move forward in early December.
-
County commission not satisfied with city Duck River contract
The Cullman County Commission will not sign onto the city’s Duck River water plan until certain aspects of the project contract are addressed.
-
Man with meth lab in bag attempts to elude deputies
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a local man Thursday after he allegedly tried to elude them while carrying a bag of meth-making materials.
-
Garden City cafeteria under consideration
A new cafeteria for Garden City Elementary School is currently under consideration, though plans will not go forward until at least April 2010.
-
Food drive ends Thursday
The Cullman Times Cares and Shares Food Drive will end tomorrow and donations are still needed to reach the 16,000 pound goal.
-
Second chance
Buck recently lost one of his legs due to an act of animal cruelty.
-
Commissioner presents county water plan to Colony town council
Cullman County Commissioner Wayne Willingham attended Colony’s recent town council meeting to discuss the current Cullman County water issue with area residents.
- More Local News Headlines
-
