Six face meth distribution charges

Six men named in six separate indictments issued last month by a federal grand jury are accused of distributing methamphetamine in the Texarkana area.

Patrick Taylor, 31, is accused in an indictment unsealed June 8 in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas of distributing more than 5 grams of meth on July 12 and Aug. 11 in 2017. He pleaded not guilty at a hearing June 8 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant.

Taylor is represented by Public Defender Alex Wynn, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Denis Dean is representing the government.

Bryant released Taylor on an unsecured $5,000 bond at his initial appearance. He is scheduled for trial Aug. 1 before U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes.

Vincent Coleman, 37, also is accused of methamphetamine distribution. An indictment unsealed June 25 in the Western District of Arkansas alleges that he distributed more than 5 grams of meth on March 2 and 7 and Sept. 22 in 2017.

Coleman entered pleas of not guilty at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven at his initial appearance June 25. Texarkana lawyer Jason Horton has been appointed to represent Coleman. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brice White is representing the government.

Court records show Coleman has a lengthy history of drugs and weapons offenses in Hempstead County. He was sentenced in January to six years in state prison for drug-related crimes.

Coleman remains in custody. He is scheduled for trial Aug. 3 before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey.

The Western District of Arkansas also handed down an indictment for Dewon Davis, 27, who is accused of distributing methamphetamine on March 16, 2017. Davis appeared before Craven for arraignment June 25 and entered a plea of not guilty.

Craven appointed Hot Springs, Ark., lawyer Clay Janske to represent Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones is prosecuting. Davis waived the issue of detention at his initial appearance and remains in custody.

In a two-count indictment pending in the Western District of Arkansas, Randy "Scobbie" Caldwell, 40, is accused of distributing more than 5 grams of meth on July 14, 2017, and of distributing more than 50 grams of meth July 17, 2017. He pleaded not guilty pleas at a June 8 hearing before Bryant.

Caldwell is represented by Hot Springs lawyer Morse Gist. He is scheduled for trial Aug. 1 before Hickey.

Bruce "Bird" Witherspoon Jr. made an initial appearance on a two-count indictment June 25 before Craven. He is accused of distributing more than 5 grams of meth March 2, 2017, and March 15, 2017. Jones is handling the case for the government.

Witherspoon is scheduled for trial Aug. 22 before Hickey. He waived the issue of detention at his initial appearance and remains in custody.

Luval Cole Jr., 32, is accused of distributing more than 5 grams of meth on Feb. 19, 2017, and Feb. 27, 2017. Cole appeared June 25 for an initial appearance before Craven and entered pleas of not guilty with the help of Hot Springs lawyer Ben Hooten. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brice White is prosecuting.

Cole is scheduled for trial Aug. 23 before Barnes.

Craven typically handles cases in the Eastern District of Texas in the Texarkana Division, and Bryant typically handles cases in the Western District of Arkansas in the Texarkana Division. Because of Texarkana's unique geography, Craven and Bryant are cross-designated, which allows each to hear cases in either jurisdiction when the other is unavailable.

Texarkana's downtown federal building straddles the state line between Texas and Arkansas and is home to courtrooms for both federal jurisdictions.

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