Ava, MO. – What started as a drug-related traffic stop for one Douglas County Deputy turned into an arrest, and eventually charges on child pornography.
This began on May 5th, as Deputy Aaron Box of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign around Highway 5 South of Ava.
During the stop, suspicion of illegal drugs occurred, and K-9 Amigo was deployed, who alerted to narcotics. 1.7 grams of Methamphetamine were found, and the driver, Thomas Richardson, 31 of Ava, was arrested with original charges being Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Investigation continued, and it was found Richardson’s phone contained thousands of images of child pornography, which led to additional charges of 2nd Degree Possession of Child Pornography, and a bond set at $100,000.
These events led to a search warrant of Richardson’s residence in Western Douglas County being executed on May 9th. Inside, deputies found Jennie Gardner, 43 at the residence in possession of methamphetamine. Several electronic devices were seized and Gardner was then arrested on Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, with a $500 bond.
