METH: Seven charged as officers act on citizens' tips

The LaRue County Sheriff’s Office and constables have been busy following up on tips about methamphetamine labs. In a two-day period, seven people have been charged with manufacturing or trafficking in the illegal drug.
River Road
A Bardstown man, already declared a fugitive by the Nelson County Circuit Court, is now facing charges of manufacturing and trafficking in methamphetamine.
Jason Douglas Fletcher, 33, has 26 outstanding felony and 12 misdemeanor warrants from unrelated Nelson County cases, according to LaRue Deputy Eric Williamson.
Williamson said he learned Fletcher was staying at a residence owned by James Michael Rust, 33, of River Road, New Haven. While serving the warrants Sept. 7, he searched the residence, allegedly finding components of a meth lab inside.
Both men face charges of first-degree manufacturing and trafficking in meth; first-degree possession of controlled substance (meth); buy or possession of drug paraphernalia; and prescription or controlled substance not in original container.
Fletcher was charged also with second-degree criminal possession of forged instrument and theft by unlawful taking.
Rust was charged also with possession of firearm by a convicted felon.
According to Nelson County court records, Fletcher was granted a five-year, supervised pretrial diversion on 18 counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, six counts theft by unlawful taking more than $300 and 12 counts theft by unlawful taking under $300 in a 2009 case. As a condition of the diversion, Fletcher was ordered to pay $3,825 in restitution to Town and Country Bank at a rate of $100 per month. He was later declared a fugitive. His installment payment is due Oct. 20.
According to a Bardstown Police Department investigation, Fletcher stole personal checks from an elderly victim who was a family friend. He wrote out 18 checks to himself and cashed them without proper authorization to do so.
Constable Tim Ford and the Hardin County Drug Task Force assisted with the investigation.
Fletcher and Rust were lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center under $50,000 cash bond. Prelim-inary hearings will be Wednes-day in LaRue Circuit Court.
Lyons Station
Williamson followed up the following day on another tip at a Lyons Station Road residence.  
The homeowner gave consent for Williamson and Ford to enter the home.
“There were enough items inside to make a meth lab,” Williamson said.
Michael Allen Brown, 35, and Matthew A. Dickerson, 38, both of New Haven, were charged with first-degree manufacturing methamphetamine; trafficking in controlled substance (meth); and possession of controlled substance (meth).
The charges will be enhanced due to the presence of a firearm in the house, Williamson said. The homeowner was not charged.
Bond for each was set at $100,000 cash.
Spring Loop
On Sept. 10, Ford followed up on another tip of drug manufacturing on Spring Loop Road in Buffalo.
The homeowner gave permission for him to search the premises and he “noticed lots of items in plain view … to manufacture meth,” he said.
He found also an active meth lab.
Rebecca Lynn Fisher, 47, of Buffalo; James Kevin Polston, 42, of Mount Sherman; and April R. Priddy, 33, of Mount Sherman, were each charged with manufacturing meth; possession of controlled substance (meth); possession of marijuana; and buy or possession of drug paraphernalia.
Priddy was charged also with promoting contraband for allegedly taking marijuana into the LaRue County Detention Center when she was booked.
They were lodged in the LCDC under $50,000 cash bond. Ford said the cases would be presented to a LaRue County grand jury.

Jason Fletcher

James Michael Rust

Michael Allen Brown

Matthew A. Dickerson

Rebecca Fisher

April Priddy

James Polston