More than a dozen indicted in Houston County after drug probe
PERRY -- A six-month investigation by authorities last year involving surveillance and a wire tap has resulted in more than a dozen people being indicted in Houston County on drug charges.
Among those indicted was 49-year-old Robert Allen Slade, the original target of the investigation. He was indicted Sept. 29 on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession of cocaine.
Slade’s arraignment hearing Wednesday in Superior Court was continued until a later date.
“I think he would dispute the allegations against him,” said Slade’s attorney, Floyd Buford of Macon.
Slade is being held in the Laurens County jail on an unrelated federal Drug Enforcement Administration case in which he is accused of trafficking methamphetamine. He has pleaded not guilty, Buford said.
Authorities started watching Slade’s residence in Warner Robins in April 2014 and later started listening to his cellphone calls and reading his text messages, said Houston County sheriff’s Sgt. Wayne Franklin, who headed the investigation.
Authorities also recovered hours of video surveillance footage from Slade’s home when it was raided Oct. 20, 2014. The footage came from surveillance cameras that Slade himself had installed that continuously recorded, Franklin said.
Three other men were indicted in the same indictment: Shaun Richardson Woody, 33, of Richland; Charles Christopher Westfaul, 44, of Warner Robins; and Richard Brantley Moncrief, 37, of Warner Robins.
Woody was indicted on a charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Westfaul on a charge of methamphetamine possession, and Moncrief on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Moncrief pleaded not guilty Wednesday, while Woody and Westfaul await arraignment.
Several others were indicted in connection with the drug investigation in a separate indictment also handed up by a Houston County grand jury Sept. 29.
Among them was Mark Steven Stewart, a retired Northside High School health and physical education teacher who coached football and golf. Stewart, 55, of Warner Robins, was identified by authorities for prosecution during the investigation that took place while Stewart was a teacher and coach, Franklin said. Stewart retired from the Houston County school system last December.
The former coach pleaded guilty Oct. 22 to one count of methamphetamine possession. He was sentenced to three years of probation.
Stewart is eligible for early termination of his probation after two years. He also received first offender status, which means the felony will be removed from his record after he successfully completes his probation. He had no prior criminal offenses, Franklin said.
Attempts to reach Stewart and Warner Robins attorney Kelly Burke, who represented him at the hearing, for comment were unsuccessful. Assistant District Attorney Kirby Wincey declined to comment.
Two others also indicted in the same indictment as Stewart also have entered guilty pleas. Lindsey Michelle O’Brien, 32, of Bonaire, pleaded guilty Oct. 15 to possession of methamphetamine. She was sentenced to three years in prison to run at the same time as a three-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in an unrelated case.
Jessica Seneath Dawson, 37, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty Oct. 29 to possession of methamphetamine and possession of buprenorphine, a medication designed to relieve withdrawal from heroin and other opiates. She was sentenced to three years in prison to run at the same time with three-year sentences from two other unrelated drug cases.
Five other people also indicted in the same indictment include Debra Jean Huling, 59, of Warner Robins, on charges of possession of the pain medication tramadol and possession of methamphetamine.
Kevin Neil Peters, 45, of Centerville, was indicted on two counts of possession of methamphetamine. And Joshua Troy Moore, 40, Kristi Leigh Dawson, 28, and Misty Michele Huling, 35, all of Warner Robins, each were indicted on one count of methamphetamine possession. Moore pleaded not guilty Wednesday. The others have not yet been arraigned.
Charged earlier this year through a bill of accusation from the Houston County District Attorney’s Office, Terry Joseph Gallaher, 59, of Centerville, pleaded guilty July 23 to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and methamphetamine possession. He was sentenced to 10 years probation, with early termination after six years.
Also charged through the same bill of accusation, James Michael Abston, 58, of Warner Robins, pleaded guilty July 23 to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and cocaine possession. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, with early termination after six years. Both Abston and Gallaher were given first-offender status.
To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 10:01 PM.