MIDDLE FORK – Two were arrested on drug trafficking charges last week as officers went to a home to serve warrants from Morgan County.
According to the arrest citations, Magoffin County Sheriff Department Deputies Jordan Osborne, Dewy Marshall and Donavon Watson went to a home on Kelly Patton Branch Road to serve a warrant from Morgan County.
When they arrived, Matthew Sparks, 32, of Salyersville, gave police permission to enter the camper.
Once inside, the officers noted in the citations that numerous needles and a baggie containing an unidentified white powdery substance were in plain view. Sparks reportedly gave the sheriff’s deputies permission to search the rest of the house, in which they found a tan, powdery substance that was believed to be heroin in a baggie. A clear rock-like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found in the home, as were two handguns, one of which with the serial number filed off.
After running the female’s name, Jennifer Clark, 32, also of Salyersville, through dispatch, police found that she was also wanted on an active warrant from Morgan County.
Both Sparks and Clark were taken into custody, but neither wanted to make a statement to the deputies. The two were taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, where they remain at press time.
In addition to the charge of possession of a controlled substance first degree, first offense, heroin, he was wanted for in a 2021 Morgan County indictment case, Sparks is now facing one count of buying or possessing drug paraphernalia, trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (heroin)l trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (greater than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine; possession of marijuana; and two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
While information regarding the active warrant on Clark is unknown at press time, she was charged with four counts of buying or possessing drug paraphernalia; and one count each of trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (heroin); trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense; first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, first offense (greater than or equal to two grams methamphetamine); and possession of marijuana.
Both Sparks and Clark are due in Magoffin County court on January 31 at 10 a.m. for preliminary hearings in their local case. Sparks is also due in Morgan County court for an arraignment in that case on February 28 at 9 a.m.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
