Grand jury indicts suspected drug trafficker (2024)

A man accused of possessing methamphetamine and an arsenal of weapons will face his charges in McDowell County Superior Court.

On Jan. 23, a grand jury returned 132 true bills of indictment. A grand jury meets behind closed doors to consider if enough evidence is present for a case to be heard in Superior Court.

The panel indicted 53-year-old Calvin Eugene Lavender of Bat Cave Road in Old Fort on six counts each of possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, sale and delivery of methamphetamine and maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance and one count of trafficking methamphetamine.

Lavender was wanted by authorities on multiple drug charges.

Trooper Andy Waycaster of the N.C. Highway Patrol stopped Lavender’s 1993 Nissan pickup truck just off the interstate in Old Fort on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Lt. Chris Taylor of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office said officers found a quantity of meth in the vehicle. That subsequently led authorities with the Sheriff’s Office, the Marion Police Department and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation to search Lavender’s house, where they seized more than an ounce of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and 20 to 25 long guns and handguns, Taylor stated.

The lieutenant said Lavender’s arrest was the result of a year-long investigation.

The grand jury also indicted the following people on Jan. 23:

-- David Wayne Anderson, 33, of Burnsville, four counts of obtaining property by false pretense.

-- Kea Shawnta Avery, 22, of West High Street, Marion, one count each of larceny of chose in action, obtaining property by false pretense and forgery of endorsem*nt.

-- Jeremiah Nathan Bartlett, 27, of East Railroad Street, Marion, one count each of injury to real property, breaking and entering, larceny of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.

-- Amber Nicole Black, 20, of Muddy Creek Road, Nebo, one count each of felony larceny, breaking and entering, conspiracy and safecracking.

-- Stephanie Denise Brown, 22, of North Main Street, Marion, one count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.

-- Cody Randolph Bryant, 26, of Bethlehem Road, Old Fort, two counts of statutory rape.

-- David Richard Cable, 34, of Wildlife Road, Nebo, one count of felony larceny.

-- Terence Floyd Duncan, 27, of Park Avenue, Marion, two counts of interfering with an electronic monitoring device and one count of breaking into a coin- or currency-operated machine.

-- Delores Ann Elliott, 47, of Fairview Road, Nebo, felony possession of methamphetamine.

-- Kristen Michelle Gatch, 37, of Triple J Park, Marion, aiding and abetting larceny.

-- Waylon Demanuel Hollifield, 28, of Creson Drive, Marion, one count each of first-degree trespassing, injury to real property, felony larceny, conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, larceny of a motor vehicle, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, obtaining property by false pretense and interfering with a utility meter.

-- Tina Huffman, 49, of Oak Hill Drive, Nebo, five counts of embezzlement.

-- James Anthony Laughter, 35, of Candee Acres, Marion, one count each of assault on a female and habitual misdemeanor assault.

-- William Kyle Lytle, 21, of Union Mills, one count each of possession of cocaine, simple possession of marijuana, breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, conspiracy, injury to real property and injury to personal property.

-- Dustin Steve Martin, 20, of Yancey Road, Marion, one count each of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, conspiracy, injury to real property and injury to personal property.

-- Scott Alexander McIntosh, 42, of Jacksonville, N.C., two counts of trafficking marijuana and one count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance.

-- Ray Mills Morgan, 81, of Lilac Drive, Marion, 12 counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and one count of first-degree sex offense.

-- Jennifer Rose Ollis, 32, of Airport Road, Marion, one count each of possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance.

-- Gladys Amanda Parker, 24, of Oakdale Road, Old Fort, one count of larceny from a person.

-- Robert Hezekiah Patton, 23, of Mace’s Park Drive, Marion, one count each of attempting to obtain property by false pretense and possession of stolen goods.

-- Tasha Lee Patton, 27, of Muddy Creek Road, Marion, one count each of felony larceny, obtaining property by false pretense and misdemeanor larceny.

-- Marcus Leonard Pendley, 22, of Ridge Road, Marion, one count each of first-degree burglary and felony possession of methamphetamine.

-- Stacy Ann Pinkerton, 23, of Welborn Drive, Marion, one count of first-degree burglary.

-- Robin Michelle Pyatt, 32, of Wayne Hyatt Drive, Marion, two counts of larceny by employee.

-- Guy Truett Randolph, 39, of Sherwood Forest Drive, Nebo, one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of marijuana, felony possession of methamphetamine, fleeing to elude arrest, felony possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance.

-- Lorenzo De La Cruz Reyes, 46, of Lytle Mountain Road, Marion, three counts of second-degree rape.

-- Anthony Dean Riddle, 25, of Carolina Avenue Extension, Marion, one count each of larceny of a firearm, breaking and entering, injury to real property, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony larceny and injury to personal property.

-- Derrick Lee Riddle, 22, of Carolina Avenue Extension, Marion, one count of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense.

-- Richard T. Sanders, 22, of Old Glenwood Road, Marion, one count of malicious conduct by a prisoner.

-- Roy Lee Sparks, 54, of Cemetery Road, Nebo, one count of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.

-- Mark A. Thacker, 32, of Jacksonville, N.C., two counts of trafficking marijuana and one count each of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a place to keep a controlled substance.

-- Alexandros Nikolaos Tsilianos, 27, of Plumtree, one count each of littering less than 15 pounds, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

-- Thomas Ray Tyo, 30, of Pleasant Hill Road, Marion, one count of a sex offender registry violation (failure to report change of address).

-- Donald Wesley Weathers, 31, of Chesnee, S.C., four counts each of breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering, three counts of attempted breaking and entering and one count of possession of stolen goods.

-- Samuel Lee White, 32, of South Creek Road, Nebo, one count of embezzlement.

-- Jesse Aaron Williams, 22, of Hitt Park, Marion, one count each of felony larceny and injury to personal property.