Five charged in Jackson County drug cases

Friday, January 1, 1904

Five people were arrested Wednesday in Jackson County, Ala., on drug-related charges.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office arrested Raymond Earl Pendergrass, 31; Joseph Nathan Austin, 30; Hollie Linn Hale, 40; and Ricky Wayne Thomas, 54, on charges of first-degree unlawful manufacture of controlled substances and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, authorities said.

Bond was set at $10,500 for each, and all four remained in custody at the Jackson County Jail on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The arrests came after a search of a home on County Road 255 in Bridgeport, Ala., where about half a cup of liquid methamphetamine, chemicals used to make meth and drug paraphernalia were found, authorities said.

"It was a small lab," Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said. "Most of them are these days. People just cook enough for themselves and a few friends -- making just enough money to keep the lab going."

In a separate incident, Stevenson, Ala., police and the Jackson deputies arrested Adam Ryan Ray, 25, after searching a home on County Road 45 and finding a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Ray was charged with second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Jackson County Jail and released on a $1,000 bond, according to authorities.