Two men accused of trafficking meth get their trial dates

Two drug trafficking suspects accused of carrying meth valued at $140,000 will soon stand trial.

Clarence Johnson, 27, of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Byann Blakeney, 38, of Big Sandy, Texas, had their pre-trial hearing scheduled for Oct. 3, and the trial date will be Oct. 16 in Little River County Circuit Court.

Johnson remains in custody in the Little River County jail in Ashdown, and Blakeney is in custody in the Sevier County jail in De Queen.

Jerry Delony, 40, of Ashdown, had his trial date continued and will return to the courtroom Sept. 19 to have a pre-trial hearing and a trial date scheduled. Delony remains in the Sevier County jail.

The trio was arrested Aug. 5 The police stopped a Kia Spectra driven by Johnson in Ashdown.

Officers searched the vehicle and found more than 240 grams of methamphetamine. Johnson was taken into custody, according to the Little River Sheriff's Department report.

Ashdown police officers contacted the Little River County Sheriff's Office and the South-Central Drug Task Force. The investigation expanded, and officers secured a search warrant for the apartment where Johnson had stayed. Officers found an additional 145 grams of crystal meth and 1,020 grams of liquid meth in the apartment.

The total amount of drugs seized was more than 1,400 grams. At a street value of $100 per gram, the cash value surpasses $140,000.

The case is still under investigation.

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