For the third time in two months, and the second time this month, a West Plains man has been charged with felonies after a search warrant for drugs was served Thursday at a home on the 300 block of Maple Street.
Christopher A. Wright, 41, was arrested as a result of the latest search and is held without bond a little over a week after his last arrest, charged again with the felonies of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and keeping or maintaining a public nuisance.
West Plains Police Officer Daiman Meyer, in documents submitted to prosecutors, reported that on Thursday morning, officers executed a search warrant that included the house, all outbuildings and vehicles on the property and late arrivals to the premises.
The report noted there were seven people on the property who were detained during the search, including Wright. Court records show Everett W. Lamplugh, 38, West Plains, was also arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance after a small plastic bag containing an electrical fuse that had a white crystalline substance inside it was found in his possession. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court documents. Lamplugh is held on $10,000 bond and was scheduled for arraignment on Friday afternoon, after which his bond would be set by Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
According to the probable cause statement, Wright was questioned by Officer Jacob Brixey after he had been read his legal rights and stated that, to his knowledge, there was only a meth pipe in the house.
Evidence reportedly seized during the search included a loaded syringe containing a dark liquid substance; a pill bottle with two glass pipe ends taped to it so it could be used to smoke narcotics; a glass pipe end; a small baggie and a glass pipe each containing a white crystalline substance; a bag with a glass pipe, a straw and a baggie, all of which contained a white crystalline substance; and a purse containing multiple credit cards and identification cards that didn't belong to anyone at the home.
More evidence allegedly found in Wright's bedroom included a clear baggie containing a white crystalline substance, a glass smoking device with burnt and white crystalline residue, a partial orange-colored pill in a plastic bag, multiple baggies that appeared to be intended to use for the sale and distribution of narcotics, and an electronic scale with white residue on it.
The bag of white crystalline substance field-tested positive methamphetamine and weighed about 2.91 grams, or a tenth of an ounce including the bag weight, according to Meyer.
The officer's report included a history of alleged drug-related incidents and search warrants executed at the house, beginning with an officer response to the address on Sept. 16, 2023, when a woman was found dead. Later toxicology results showed she died from a fentanyl overdose and methamphetamine toxicity.
On Jan. 10, in summary, a search allegedly uncovered several pills found to be controlled substances, and about 30 grams, or an ounce, of meth. Wright's statement to police during that incident was that he had "bought and sold meth to thousands of people during the time I've been involved," according to the probable cause statement.
Wright was charged in that case with second-degree drug trafficking, unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a weapon and a felony controlled substance, and keeping or maintaining a public nuisance, arrested on $100,000 bond and released on bond Jan. 12.
On Feb. 14, officers again conducted a search of the same home, finding pills that were controlled substances and about 36 grams of meth, or 1.26 ounces. Wright was arrested and charged with second-degree drug trafficking, keeping or maintaining a public nuisance and possession of a controlled substance, then held on $250,000 bond and released two days later after posting a surety bond.
Court records show he has pleaded not guilty to the charges in those cases and is to appear for a counsel status hearing on Monday. His attorney in those two cases is Special Public Defender Larry Burton of Mtn. View.
No attorney is listed as Wright’s representative in the latest case as of Friday morning, and all three cases are being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Jodi Wake.
