DEXTER — Five Dexter residents were arrested after a pair of search warrants allegedly turned up methamphetamine, pills and drug paraphernalia Tuesday.
Donald L. Morris, 68, is charged with the Class C felony of delivery of a controlled substance and the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance, while Donald Vaughn, 63, is charged with the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance.
Juan C. Soto, 35, is charged with two Class D felonies of possession of a controlled substance and the Class D misdemeanor a possession of drug paraphernalia, while Kathy A. Hardin, 40, is charged with the Class D felony of possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, Kenneth D. Chastain, 51, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.
According to a press release from the Stoddard County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday’s arrests concluded a two-month long investigation by the sheriff’s office and other agencies into methamphetamine distribution. Also investigating were the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Dexter Police Department.
Morris originally was arrested on July 6, when Stoddard County sheriff’s deputies and members of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force responded to his residence concerning reports of methamphetamine distribution. A search of the residence allegedly revealed methamphetamine and items indicative of the sale of methamphetamine.
From there, the sheriff’s office continued the investigation with the assistance of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Dexter Police Department.
The investigation concluded Tuesday with the execution of a pair of search warrants, one at Morris’s residence in the 800 block of North Walnut Street and another at Chastain‘s residence in the 600 block of North Sassafras Street. During the execution of those warrants, law enforcement officers allegedly found methamphetamine, pills and drug paraphernalia.