Charges filed in funeral home drug raid

February 15, 2007 12:58 am

— By Julianna Parker
Transcript Staff Writer
PURCELL — Six people arrested on drug-related charges in Tuesday’s raid on a funeral home were arraigned Wednesday. Only one was released on bond.
McClain County Sheriff’s Department and Purcell police officers spent nine hours collecting 107 pieces of evidence Tuesday — mostly drugs and drug paraphernalia — from the Yoakum-Damet Funeral Home in Purcell and its adjoining house, detective Dan Huff said.
Bonds were set and formal charges were filed at the arraignment for all six people taken into custody.
Bonds were set at $25,000 for Beth Ann Adams, 46; $160,000 for Charles Mike Damet, 50; $100,000 for Deborah Diane Johnson, 30; $100,000 for Nisha Deveene Parker, 32; $160,000 for Robert Edward Parton, 37; and $10,000 for Karen Sue Skinner, 46.
Skinner was the only one who paid her bail as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. The rest will wait in jail for the next step, hiring or being assigned lawyers. Then a hearing date will be set, District Attorney Greg Mashburn said.
Johnson and Parker were charged with five counts: possession of methamphetamines with intent to distribute, possession within 2,000 feet of a school, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) in the presence of a minor child, maintaining a dwelling where CDS is kept, and possession of a scanner while in commission of a felony.
Parton was charged with all five of those and an additional count of delivery of drugs, in reference to a delivery made Feb. 7.
Damet, the owner of the funeral home, was charged with all six counts above. Additionally, he was charged with possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony.
Adams and Skinner were each charged with one felony and one misdemeanor: possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of paraphernalia.
Julianna Parker
366-3550
jparker@normantranscript.com