Published: November 01, 2008 06:40 pm      

Drug bust leads to charges against two bail bonding agents

PICAYUNE — A husband and wife were charged with possession of a controlled substance and at this time can no longer work as bonding agents.

Thursday and Friday, an investigation into possible drug activity led to the arrest of three suspects, 18 year-old Craig Nelson, 44 year-old Peggy Magee and 46 year-old Stephon Magee, said Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier. All three reside at 628 Charlotte Dr.

Information about Nelson distributing marijuana out of his home prompted investigators to set up surveillance, Saucier said. Officers saw Nelson outside the home and attempted to apprehend him, but he ran. When Nelson was caught, he was found to be in possession of two bags of marijuana, Saucier said. A warrant was secured to search the area and investigators conduced a search of Nelson’s vehicle and home.

In that search investigators found several more bags of marijuana set for individual sale in Nelson’s vehicle, Saucier said. In the home shared by the Nelson and the Magees, investigators found several Lortabs packed for resale, some Darvocet and Klonopin in the Magees’ bedroom. Saucier said neither Magee had prescriptions for the medication found in the home. Nelson apparently is the son of Peggy Magee.

Fifteen firearms in the form of handguns and rifles also were taken from the home, Saucier said.

Nelson was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and resisting arrest. Peggy Magee and Stephon Magee were each charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, Saucier said.

Saucier said each Magee listed one of their employers as a bonding agency, A-1 Outlaw Bonding. Carol Pearson, owner of A-1 Outlaw Bonding, said Peggy Magee was her employee, but Stephon Magee actually was an employee of A Outlaw Bonding, a different company.

Saucier said bonding agencies operate independently from law enforcement agencies.

Sheriff David Allison said he sent A-1 Outlaw Bonding a letter stating the charged suspects can not operate as bondsmen. In the case of Peggy Magee, that has been the case for several months after the department became aware she had a prior conviction in Louisiana, Allison said. However, an attorney hired to represent Peggy Magee had the conviction expunged from her record and was waiting for a decision from Allison’s office to reinstate her bonding privileges.

Allison said prior to his making the decision, her arrest took place on Thursday.

Pearson said she is aware of the charges against her employee and contends that Peggy Magee has prescriptions for the medication found in her home. She said Peggy Magee recently secured records of such from a local drug store. Pearson expects Peggy Magee’s lawyer to handle the matter and prove the medication was possessed legally, effectively reinstating bonding privileges for the Magees. As for the charges against her son, Pearson said Peggy Magee will handle the situation accordingly.

“She’s very angry with her son right now. She’s going to stand by her son and get him some help,” Pearson said.