Sheriff’s deputies picked up two additional suspects this weekend on drug charges.

Tuesday, October 19, 1999

Sheriff’s deputies picked up two additional suspects this weekend on drug charges.

Jon Wilson, 764 County Road 3, Chesapeake, was arrested on five counts of trafficking in drugs Saturday night, said Chief Deputy Jim Cochran of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.

"We picked Wilson up on a warrant, which evolved from undercover buys and a search warrant on his residence," Cochran said.

Ray McDonald, 40 Township Road 185, Chesapeake, also was arrested on five counts of complicity to trafficking in drugs early Monday morning, Cochran added.

Both suspects were incarcerated in the Lawrence County Jail upon their arrest. The arraignment was held Monday morning, and the two were released on a $10,000 bond.

Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for Oct. 22 in Lawrence County Municipal Court, Cochran said.

The two arrests are just a few of those made at the end of a lengthy undercover operation, he added.

Six other Lawrence County residents await an Oct. 22 preliminary hearing date.

The following individuals were arraigned in Lawrence County Municipal Court Friday in connection with the two drug raids:

– Roger D. Burress, 764 County Road 3, Chesapeake, pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking in drugs and conspiracy to kidnapping. He was remanded to the Lawrence County Jail and held on a $100,000 cash bond.

– Dennis R. McMaster, 355 Township Road 303, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to charges of drug abuse and trafficking in drugs. He was remanded to the county jail and held on a $50,000 cash bond.

– Tina F. McMaster, 355 Township Road 303, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to a charge of trafficking in drugs and was remanded to the county jail. She was held on a $25,000 cash bond or $50,000 property bond.

– Jason Rice, 355 Township Road 303, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking in drugs and drug abuse. Rice was remanded to the county jail and held on a $5,000 cash bond.

– Tommy J. Wilson, 764 County Road 3, Chesapeake, pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking in drugs and illegal sale of a firearm. He was remanded to the county jail and held on a $10,000 cash bond.

Some, but not all, of the arrests were related to information obtained in the same investigation that uncovered more than $300,000 in drugs and stolen property earlier this week, Sheriff Roy Smith said.

Items recovered at the scenes included high-powered rifles, marijuana and oxycodon, a strong analgesic pain reliever sold on the streets for between $25 and $60 per pill.

In Chesapeake, Roger D. Burress not only sold drugs to the undercover deputy, he also attempted to hire the officer for a kidnapping in West Virginia, Cochran said.

At this time, the investigation is ongoing and other arrests are pending through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the Lawrence County Drug Taskforce, Cochran said.