April 18, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A deputy pulled over a vehicle last Friday for a traffic violation but discovered much more after talking to the driver and his two passengers.
44 year old James Lynn Owen of Twilla Lane, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence and cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and 0.2 grams of methamphetamine. Owen is under a $1,500 bond.
35 year old Ashley Nicole Owen is charged with tampering with evidence and cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug (Hydrocodone), 0.2 grams of the schedule II drug Methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia (a needle). Her bond is $3,500 and she will make a court appearance May 2.
41 year old Jessica Renee Owen is charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II drug (Oxycodone) and tampering with evidence. She was further cited for simple possession of 0.2 grams of the schedule II drug Methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia (a needle and 2 glass pipes with residue). Her bond totals $13,500 and she will make a court appearance May 2.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Friday, April 12 James Owen’ vehicle was stopped on East Broad Street for a display of registration violation. While speaking with Owen, the deputy noticed that his speech was very rapid and stuttered. His eyes were red and glossy and his pupils constricted. As Owen got out of the vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet and fidgety. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and although he submitted to implied consent for a blood test, a search warrant was obtained for a blood sample. A search of his vehicle turned up 0.2 grams of meth from the console of the car, glass pipes, and Oxycodone.
Ashley Owen was a passenger with James and as she got out of the automobile, the deputy saw Ashley put something in her mouth, believed to be a pill before swallowing it. The officer found other pills on Ashley including Hydrocodone along with a needle.
Jessica Owen was also a passenger and had on her person a bottle of 51 pills believed to be Hydrocodone. Owen, who had no prescription for the drugs, has been convicted before for the sale and delivery of the schedule II drug Oxycodone. As Jessica got out of the vehicle, she too put a Hydrocodone pill in her mouth and tried to swallow it but the officer was able to retrieve it. He also found in her possession a needle and glass pipes with residue.