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October 29, 2009

Trial date set for Keavy meth trio

By Carl Keith Greene

Staff Writer

A federal court trial for three arrested in Keavy and charged with drug, explosives and firearm crimes has been set for Dec. 14.

Daryl G. Arnold II, 39, of Keavy, Jeffrey Lee McDaniel, 40, of Williamsburg and Melissa Hart, 33, of Corbin, entered not guilty pleas Tuesday afternoon to Magistrate Judge Robert E. Wier in U.S. District Court in London.

The three were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday.

The trio was charged together with conspiring to make and making methamphetamine.

McDaniel was charged alone with having methamphetamine and intending to sell it, and being a convicted felon in possession of explosive devices described as five Nonel blasting caps and Ensign Bickford 25ms/350ms surface delay blasting caps.

He was also charged with being a convicted felon possessing firearms including an INTRAC, 7.62 caliber, 39mm, SKS rifle and an unregistered Harrington & Richardson, 16-gauge sawed-off shotgun model 158.

Arnold was also charged with possessing the same explosives as described above.

The arrests were the result of a complaint made about the three making the drug.

In the search of the Arnold home in Keavy, Drug Enforcement Agents reportedly found meth production products including equipment to make, package, conceal and distribute the drug. Also allegedly found were heating devices, chemicals, funnels, plastic tubing, matchbooks, scales and other material.

Based on what was found, DEA Agent Michael Kersey read Arnold his rights and Arnold agreed to discuss the evidence.

He reportedly told agents that McDaniel had been using his home to make the drug. Arnold also reportedly admitted he had assisted McDaniel in the lab and had been paid in cash for the use of the home.

Further search in the home uncovered a fanny-pack containing explosives, Kersey said in his affidavit.

Kersey was routed to McDaniel’s home where he was said to be found in possession of a half-ounce of meth.

The firearms were also found at the home.

Hart appeared at the home’s back door and was allegedly seen dropping a container into an outdoor sink. That container reportedly contained about five grams of meth.

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