AVA, Mo. – An Ava woman arrested during a September narcotics search at Maple Lane Trailer Park has been indicted by a Douglas County grand jury on felony drug possession and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charges.
Judy Ann Cox, 61, of Ava, was indicted on one count of possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony, and one count of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class D misdemeanor.
Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team served a narcotics search warrant Sept. 12 at the Maple Lane Trailer Park in Ava. According to the sheriff’s office, Cox and Dennis Gast, 60, also of Ava, were taken into custody during the search.
Authorities reported seizing methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Cox and Gast were initially placed on 24 hour holds, and warrants were later issued for both.
The indictment against Cox alleges that on or about Sept. 13 in Douglas County, she knowingly possessed methamphetamine, a controlled substance. The grand jury also alleges Cox possessed a smoking device as drug paraphernalia with the intent to use it to ingest a controlled substance or imitation controlled substance.
The Sept. 13 date alleged in the indictment and online charge information is one day after the sheriff’s office reported serving the search warrant Sept. 12.
The indictment identifies Cox as a prior offender, alleging she was previously convicted of felony non-support on Oct. 28, 2008, in Webster County Circuit Court.
A Douglas County grand jury returned a true bill on both counts, and the indictment was filed Sept. 14. Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Weatherman signed the indictment.
Bond was set at $1,500 cash. A bond conditions form included with the court filing orders Cox to be supervised by Court Probation Services, undergo drug testing twice a week and refrain from illegal drugs or mood altering substances without a valid prescription.
Gast was also arrested following the search and, according to the sheriff’s office, was accused of possession of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was also set at $1,500 cash only.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
