Press release
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Investigators Kendell Wellman and Kay Langford received information that parties inside a room at the Travelers Inn motel were distributing methamphetamines.
Wellman obtained a narcotics search warrant signed by 173rd District Judge Dan Moore. Wellman, Langford, Sheriff Ray Nutt, Chief Botie Hillhouse, Investigator Brad Beddingfield, Investigator Robert Powers and Athens PD Sgt. Don Yarborough and Investigator Chris Saylors executed the warrant at 2 p.m.
Once inside the room, investigators found four people: James Bradley Johnson Jr., Elizabeth Carter, Matthew Loden and George Jones. Johnson and Carter were found to be in possession of a large quantity of suspected methamphetamines, cash and materials related to the distribution and sale of narcotics. Additionally, Jones was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamines and had an outstanding warrant for possession of marijuana. Loden was wanted for traffic warrants out of Athens PD. All four subjects were arrested and taken to the Henderson County Jail.
Johnson was charged with possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, over 4 grams under 200 grams.
Carter was charged with possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, over 4 grams under 200 grams.
Jones was charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 under 1 gram and a warrant for possession of marijuana.
Thank you to Henderson County’s Shefiff’s Dept. As a visiting nurse helping out a friend in Athens on hospice,i was staying in a room close to the drug bust at the Travel Inn. I observed a team of professionals clearing out the riff-raff quickly and efficiently. Great work gentlemen!