There's a new sheriff in town in Henry County, and he's proving he came in with a purpose just two months ago. During his first weeks in office, Sheriff Eric Blankenship's team was able to investigate and make a large drug bust.
The two-month-long investigation plateaued Tuesday with the arrest of two people from a home on County Road 18 in Newville, a town that sits between Abbeville and Dothan.
Blankenship said investigators executed a search warrant at the home around 1 p.m. On the property, they found approximately 16 grams of fentanyl, nearly two and a half pounds of marijuana, 15 grams of methamphetamine, numerous types of illegally possessed pills, 23 firearms and a large amount of money.
“I would like to commend the investigators with the Henry County Drug Task Force for their hard work on this case over the past two months," said Blankenship. "Keeping deadly drugs like these off of our streets will continue to be a priority for my department. I would also like to thank ALEA’s Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force (ADETF) from Region B for their assistance with this case.”
Debra K. Shirah, 57, and Robert M Kennedy, 60, both of Newville, are both charged with two counts of drug trafficking, one count of possession with intent to distribute, 21 counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of marijuana II and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Shirah and Kennedy were booked into the Henry County Jail with no bond. It is unclear if they have an attorney or when their initial court appearance will be.
Blankenship said the investigation was ongoing and there could be more charges.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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