Putting a correct return address on mail sent to an inmate in the Baxter County jail with a controlled substance tucked under both stamps proved to be a big mistake for two Jordan area residents — Jessica Lee and Dennis Lawton.
Lee appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday to be sentenced on charges lodged against her related to the incident.
She had pled no contest to the charges in late November and was in court Thursday to be sentenced. She was given 10 years probation and ordered to spend a year in one of the Community Correction Centers in the state and go through a therapeutic program related to addictions.
Lawton’s case is still active. He will reappear in Circuit Court Thursday.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said at the time that a secretary in his office noticed the stamps on two postcards appeared to have bulges under them and were positioned in such a manner that they could be easily removed.
An orange colored substance found underneath each stamp tested positive for opioids.
After finding the substance under the stamps, officers went to the address on the postcards to investigate the attempt to sneak drugs into the county jail. Lee and Lawson were both reported to live at the address.
The 30-year-old Lee admitted to officers that she had put the stamps on the postcards, but initially denied placing the controlled substance under them.
In searching the residence, officers found almost 7 grams of methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe, multiple syringes, generic Xanax pills and a small amount of marijuana.
Both Lee and Lawton were arrested following the search.
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