A local man and woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in Garland County Circuit Court to felony drug charges stemming from a raid on their residence last summer by authorities.
John Michael Nooner, 44, and his wife, Patricia Louise Nooner, 45, who both list an address of 306 Highland St., each pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug premises and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, marijuana, while additional charges of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a firearm by certain persons and possession of drug paraphernalia were withdrawn by prosecutors.
Both John and Patricia Nooner were sentenced to six years' probation with drug court conditions, and ordered to pay $545 in court costs and fees. John Nooner, who was set to stand trial Feb. 17, was also fined $2,000 while Patricia Nooner, who was set for a review hearing on her case this week, was fined $50.
While many items seized in the raid were forfeited, court documents indicate the couple were allowed to keep their residence as part of the civil judgment.
According to the affidavit, on Aug. 1, agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force and officers with the Hot Springs Police Department's SWAT team executed a search warrant on the couple's Highland Street residence and located both suspects and three juveniles inside.
In searching the residence, they located 28 grams of marijuana, two sets of digital scales, a mechanical roller, rolling papers, multiple plastic bags, numerous firearms and ammunition.
Both John and Patricia Nooner were previously convicted in 2001 of a felony count of violation of the controlled substances act and sentenced to five years probation so they were not allowed to own or possess firearms.
The amount of supervision drug court clients are subject to is more intense than normal probation, including being tested for drugs a minimum of three times a week and the possibility of being randomly called in anytime, seven days a week.
The clients must also go to individual and group counseling, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, and are required to be employed at all times during the program.
The DTF is composed of officers with the HSPD, Garland County Sheriff's Department and Arkansas State Police.
Local on 01/28/2015