NEWTON, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – Four people are in jail on felony charges after a busy day for local officers. The Newton County arrests came Tuesday, Oct. 27, when deputies and state drug agents searched two homes. One home is in Chunky. The other is in Newton.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office shared the news in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.
First search warrant in Chunky
The first search warrant was at 23847 Highway 80 in Chunky. Three agencies took part. They were the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Newton County Special Response Team (SRT) and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN).
First, deputies went inside and made the home safe. After that, they searched the house.
Deputies arrested Samantha Coleman. She is charged with possession of a controlled substance. A controlled substance is a drug the law strictly limits. That includes illegal drugs and some pills that need a prescription.
Deputies also arrested William Little. He is charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Under Mississippi law, most people with a felony record cannot have a gun.
Second search warrant in Newton
On the same day, officers served a second search warrant at 506 West Church Street in Newton. The Newton Police Department joined the sheriff’s office, the SRT and MBN for this one.
After a search of the home, officers arrested Santana Griffin and Derek Wash. Both are charged with possession of a controlled substance.
What happens next
Officers took all four people to the Newton County Correctional Facility. As of Wednesday morning, they were waiting for bond hearings. A Newton County Justice Court judge will hold those hearings.
So what is a bond hearing? At this hearing, a judge decides if a person can leave jail while the case moves forward. The judge can also set a bond. That is money paid to make sure the person comes back to court.
The sheriff’s office said all of the charges are felonies. A felony is a serious crime. In Mississippi, it can lead to time in state prison.
The post did not give the ages or hometowns of the four people. It also did not say what drugs or weapon officers found.
Keep in mind that a charge is not a conviction. Every person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless a court finds them guilty.
Sheriff thanks partner agencies
Newton County Sheriff Joedy Pennington thanked the agencies that helped. He said the work was part of “our ongoing efforts to help keep Newton County safe.”
How you can help
Do you know about drug activity in your neighborhood? You can call the Newton County Sheriff’s Office at 601-635-2101. You can also call the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics tip line at 1-800-844-6272.
