Special To Your TIMES

A Vian man was arrested on various drug charges Monday afternoon after he sold an undercover Sequoyah County Sheriff's investigator alleged prescription drugs. His arrest is the latest in a string of drug arrests made by the sheriff's office in the past week.

James Sims, 56, was arrested Monday as a result of an ongoing investigation by sheriff's investigators into the illegal sale of prescription drugs, Sheriff Johnny Philpot said. Sims allegedly sold Lortab and Valium to the undercover officer.

Sims was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw on two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) with the intent to distribute and distribution of CDS within 1,000 feet of public housing. Sims remains in custody in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

People illegally selling prescription medications is becoming a more widespread problem in the county, sheriff's investigators reported. Investigators attribute some of the increase in the illegal distribution of prescription medications to the public's misconception that prescription drugs are classified separately from drugs typically thought of as being illicit street drugs.

Investigators said there is a misconception that obtaining prescription drugs from an individual is not classified as the same as obtaining methamphetamine or marijuana. Many times people selling prescription drugs are living on fixed incomes and do not realize that selling these drugs carries the same penalty as selling methamphetamine or marijuana.

"People need to realize that the illegal distribution of prescription medications can carry a stiff penalty and even jail time," investigators said.

Other Arrests

Sheriff's deputies arrested four additional county residents on drug-related charges over the weekend.

While assisting Josh Pape and Amanda Adams, community sentencing supervision officers, on a random home visit Friday, Sheriff's Deputy Josh Davis arrested Polly Green of Sallisaw on various drug-related charges.

Davis reported that a search of Green's home uncovered substances appearing to be marijuana, an unmarked prescription bottle containing pills, and items of alleged drug paraphernalia. Green, 42, was booked into the county jail on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of CDS without a valid prescription, and possession of drug paraphernalia. As of Tuesday, she remained in custody on a $1,500 bond, the sheriff's office reported.

Later in the day Friday while investigating the theft of a moped, Davis arrested William Lee Wigert, 18, of Sallisaw for knowingly concealing stolen property, and possession of CDS, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. Wigert was released on a $9,500 bond.

On Sunday evening while conducting a vehicle safety checkpoint, Deputy Lance Yoakum arrested Lisa Carroll Bibby, 40, on various drug-related charges on a county road northeast of Sallisaw.

Bibby was booked into the county jail on charges of possession of precursor substance, possession of CDS, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She remains in custody on a $10,000 bond, and she is also being held on a warrant for her arrest from Sebastian County, Ark., for drug charges.

April 12 Arrests

Investigators reported that four Vian residents were arrested on a variety of drug charges April 12 following the execution of two search warrants.

The first warrant was served by the sheriff's office and the Vian Police Department at a home in Vian.

During the search, investigators reported finding substances appearing to be crack cocaine and marijuana, along with items of paraphernalia associated with the distribution of CDS. Investigators reported that there were also children under the age of 12 in the home during the search, and the home was located within 2,000 feet of a local park.

Anthony Irving, 36, Ronald Keith Irving, 32, and Shannon Renee Shade, 22, were arrested and booked into the county jail on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of CDS, distribution of CDS within 2,000 feet of a public park, possession of CDS within the presence of a minor child under the age of 12, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Ronald Irving and Shade were released on $15,000 bonds. Anthony Irving, who has a previous felony conviction, remains in custody in lieu of a $15,000 bond.

Investigators reported the fourth arrest stemmed from a second search warrant served by the sheriff's office and the Vian Police Department.

During the search, investigators reported finding substances appearing to be crack cocaine and marijuana, along with alleged drug paraphernalia. Deputies also found a scanner monitoring the frequencies of local law enforcement agencies.

Ethan Allen Glass, 33, of Vian was booked into the county jail on charges of possession of CDS, possession of a police radio in commission of a felony, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jail records indicate that Glass has a previous felony conviction. He was released on a $11,500 bond.