Dateline: January 30, 2003

Sheriff's office arrests five on felonies

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Four local men and one juvenile female were arrested here Monday on organized criminal activity charges following a three month investigation by the Donley County Sheriff’s Department.

Darrell Ray Thomas, age 34; David Ray Tolbert, age 35; Timothy Don Lockeby, age 23; and Joshua Lamar Allred, age 23, were booked into Donley County Jail.  A 17-year-old female was also arrested but was charged as a juvenile since she was 16 at the time of the offense.

According to Sheriff Butch Blackburn, the five suspects allegedly engaged in organized criminal activity between October 1, 2002, and January 9, 2003, during which time seven deliveries of methamphetamine were made to an inmate in the Donley County Jail.

The inmate cooperated with local law enforcement, and the suspects were indicted by the Grand Jury last Friday. The charge is a first-degree felony, which could carry a life sentence, Blackburn said.

“These arrests are part of a continuing effort to rid the county of drugs, and we’re by no means through,” Blackburn said. “This ought to show that no one is untouchable.”

The suspects were arraigned Tuesday by County Judge Jack Hall. Bond was set for Thomas at $250,000, for Tolbert at $100,000, and for Allred and Lockeby at $50,000 each. According to Blackburn, a district court hearing is set for Thursday to deny bond to Thomas.

The juvenile was released to the custody of a guardian on Monday, and the other suspects remained in jail at press time.

The drugs in question have already been tested by the Department of Public Safety lab in Amarillo and were determined to be methamphetamines, he said.

The sheriff said the five suspects did not have lengthy criminal histories, although Tolbert was on probation for possession of methamphetamine, and Thomas was out on bond for a prior felony theft charge.

District Attorney Stuart Messer said he appreciated the hard work of the sheriff’s office, and Blackburn also recognized those involved.

“I want to thank all the officers and the district attorney’s office for helping this case come together,” Blackburn said.