Two indicted on marijuana selling charge

Local News

October 13, 2012

Two indicted on marijuana selling charge

By Ronica Shannon Senior News Writer The Richmond Register Sat Oct 13, 2012, 12:45 AM EDT

RICHMOND — Two people have been indicted after Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies charged them in July with being in possession of more than five pounds of marijuana.

Billy Paul Graham, 59, of Waco, and Melonie L. Cole, 43, of Rosedale Avenue, were arrested July 18.

Graham was indicted on a charge of trafficking in marijuana (more than 5 pounds), a Class C felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted on all charges, he could serve up to 21 years in prison.

Cole also was indicted on a marijuana trafficking charge (more than five pounds, but her charge was enhance to a Class B felony because she also was indicted on a persistent felony offender charge. Aside from those two indictments, Cole also was indicted for trafficking in marijuana less than eight ounces and possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted on all charges, Cole could serve up to 32 years in prison.

A 1993 Ford pickup truck was stopped July 18 at 4 p.m. for a traffic violation at Cain Springs and Doylesville roads. The truck was being driven by Cole, according to a press release from Deputy Willard Reardon, spokesperson for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

“After the stop, the sheriff’s office’s K-9 unit made a sweep of the vehicle,” Reardon said. “The K-9 alerted on the vehicle which led to a search of the vehicle.”

The search revealed approximately 4 pounds of marijuana, he said.

“This traffic stop led to the deputies going to a residence located at 290 Sands Ridge Road in Waco,” Reardon added.

Sheriff’s detectives spoke with Graham, who lived at the address. He gave deputies consent to search and approximately 1.5 pounds of marijuana were found, along with more than $10,000 in cash and a loaded handgun, according to the sheriff's report.

Cole and Graham were taken to the Madison County Detention Center. Graham was released July 18 on a $5,000 unsecured, third-party bond with home incarceration, but Cole remains incarcerated under a $3,000 cash bond.

In other indictments:

• William Chad Dixon, cultivation of marijuana (five of more plants), a Class D felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Dixon could serve up to six years in prison.

• Joseph Michael Combs, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Combs could serve up to six years in prison.

• James Douglas Jackson, two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony. If convicted on both counts, Jackson could serve up to 10 years in prison.

• Chelsea K. Ruble, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Ruble could serve up to six years in prison.

• Dallas J. Abshear, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony and second-degree possession of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Abshear could serve a maximum of six years in prison.

• Elijah K. Rono, fraudulent use of a credit card, a Class D felony. If convicted, Rono could serve a maximum or five years in prison.

An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt, only that the state has enough evidence to proceed with prosecution. See Sunday’s Richmond Register for additional Madison County indictments.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.

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