PRESTONSBURG — Three people charged last week with manufacturing methamphetamine appeared in Floyd District Court Monday for a preliminary hearing before Judge Eric Hall.
Brandon L. Arnett, 27, of Salyersville; Ryan A. Lykins, 29, of Hueysville; and Angela Shepherd, 32, of Hueysville, were all arrested late last Wednesday in a small trailer near Hueysville, where several recently used “shake and bake” style meth labs were found.
Shepherd and Lykins were each arrested and charged with one count of manufacturing methamphetamine, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and endangering the welfare of a minor. Shepherd’s last charge was amended during the arraignment to fourth-degree controlled substance endangerment to a child.
Arnett was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and first-degree possession of a controlled substance.
Each of the defendants appeared in court Monday represented by individual counsel.
During the preliminary hearing Monday, Kentucky State Police Trooper Jay Perkins testified that Post 9 had received an anonymous tip that a male and female at the defendants’ residence were cooking meth with their young children in the home. Perkins said the caller advised that there was no food in the house, and that Shepherd had an active warrant for her arrest.
According to Perkins, as troopers made their way toward the house, he noticed a “one-step generator” or “shake and bake” lab in the front floorboard of a vehicle belonging to Arnett. Troopers also located another “one-step generator” near the rear of the residence.
“It wasn’t an active lab, but it had been used and discarded,” said Trooper Perkins.
Perkins told the judge that after he was let into the home by Shepherd, he saw a needle lying in the floor in plain view. He said he found needles stuffed down into the couch, and more recently used needles with blood still in them in the bedroom.
“I really can’t explain how dirty this house was,” Perkins testified.
Two children, ages 2 and 6 months, were found in the residence.
Perkins said another individual was found in the trailer, but that he was cooperating with the investigation and would be charged later.
Following Perkins’ testimony, Judge Hall referred the case to a grand jury and said the defendants’ bonds of $25,000 each would remain the same. All three are currently lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center.
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