Three people were arrested when illegal activity was found at a home during a residential inspection conducted by the Mississippi Department of Corrections with assistance from local law enforcement.

Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison said the inspection was conducted on Sept. 26 in conjunction with narcotics investigators from his department, representatives of MDOC and Picayune Police Department narcotics detectives at the home of 39-year-old Michael Shane Penton, located at 20 Davis Dawsey Rd.

During the inspection, Penton and two other people were in the home, including Penton’s live-in girlfriend 35-year-old Melissa J. Bellanger, and 33-year-old William Shane Anderson of 1201 Kingsway Dr., Apt. 184.

Allison said that the investigators found a number of illegal items during the home inspection, including methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, prescription medication, digital scales, packing materials typically used in the resale of narcotics and various drug paraphernalia.

Most of the contraband was found in a toilet in the home, indicating that Penton had allegedly tried to dispose of the substances, Allison said.

Penton was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of prescription medication with intent to distribute, tampering with physical evidence and a probation violation hold with MDOC, Allison said.

Bellanger was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of prescription medication with intent to distribute and a previous bond for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, Allison said.

Anderson was taken into custody for probation violation with MDOC and contempt of court, Allison said.