Nolan County Narcotics Investigation – Drug Roundup

On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 several Nolan County, District and State law enforcement officers continued arrests on seven more suspected Sweetwater area drug dealers.  The warrants and arrests were the result of a joint operation involving Nolan County Sheriff’s Office – Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division (Abilene) and investigators with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The latest arrests were defendants that have participated in Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, in particular methamphetamine and heroin.

“Investigators have seized over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and 12 grams of heroin so far valued with an estimated street value of at least $62,000.” said Warren.

According to Warren, “Other arrests have been made, as a part of this ongoing operation, beginning in late September of last year.  A total of thirteen (13) people have now been arrested in this series.”

Those arrested are as follows:

  • Zachary Dewayne MCDONALD, age 32, white male, arrested on September 19, 2018 at 100 Northwest Georgia in Sweetwater.  McDonald is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Sergio SALINAS, age 26, white male, arrested on November 29, 2018 at the 255-mile post on Interstate 20 in Sweetwater.  Salinas is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Jose Alberto SALINAS, age 20, white male, arrested on November 29, 2018 at the 255-mile post on Interstate 20 in Sweetwater.  Salinas is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, over 200 grams, less than 400 grams, 1st Degree Felony.
  • Matthew Lee MCQUEEN II, age 27, white male, arrested on January 8, 2019 at 307 East Arkansas Avenue in Sweetwater.  McQueen is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Sierra Cheyann JONES, age 24, white female, arrested on January 10, 2019 at 307 East Arkansas Avenue in Sweetwater.  Jones is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Mark Randall MURRY, age 55, white male, arrested on January 10, 2019 at 701 Southwest Georgia in Sweetwater.  Murry is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.

    Outstanding warrants that were served on Tuesday, January 22, 2019
  • Curtis Mathis MAHULA III, age 43, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 710 West Oklahoma in Sweetwater.  Mahula is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Katie Louise MCQUEEN, age 29, white female, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 1505 Robert Lee Street in Sweetwater.  McQueen is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Lizette Ann ACOSTA, age 33, white female, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 711 West 6th Street in Sweetwater.  Acosta is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Shawn Lucas GARZA, age 27, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 900 Lubbock Street in Sweetwater.  Garza is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • James Allen PARKER, age 48, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 100 Bradford Lane in Sweetwater.  Parker is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.

Also arrested during the roundup on Tuesday were:

  • Dusty Dakota SUTTON, age 22, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 605 West Arkansas in Sweetwater.  Sutton is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, over 1 gram, less than 4 grams, 2nd Degree Felony.
  • Benito DELACRUZ III, age 17, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 605 West Arkansas in Sweetwater.  Delacruz is charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, less than 1 gram, State Jail Felony.

Those charged with 1st Degree Felony offenses could potentially face a penalty of 5 – 99 years in prison or life – and up to a $10,000.00 fine.

Additional arrests are forthcoming.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Sheriff Warren emphasized, “I once again appreciate the help from local citizens that supplied a portion of the information on these drug dealers, but certainly the close working relationship between our office and the Texas Department of Public Safety – CID Abilene Division, along with the local 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, is proving to be a very effective combination in the battle against this type of criminal activity in our community.”

Sheriff David Warren

Sheriff David Warren swears in new Deputy

Sierra “Bree” Darnell was sworn in Thursday afternoon at the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office as the newest Deputy Sheriff. In attendance at the swearing in were a couple of her new colleagues including, Sheriff David Warren.

Bree is a native of San Angelo, Texas, and is currently enrolled at Howard College majoring in Criminal Justice. Bree is a 2017 graduate of the Concho Valley Regional Law Enforcement Academy and looks forward to serving the citizens of Nolan County.

We wish Deputy Darnell the best and look forward to her service.