A Sallisaw woman is facing several drugrelated charges after it was found that she had allegedly sold fentanyl to a man who later overdosed and died after taking the drug.
Ernestine M. Lawson, 42, is charged with distribution of controlled dangerous substance including possession with intent to distribute, unlawful use of communication facility, possession of firearm after former felony conviction, possession of firearm during commission of a felony, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lawson was charged on Nov. 6 in Sequoyah County District Court and pled not guilty. She is now scheduled for a Dec. 11 felony disposition docket with Associate District Judge Kyle Waters.
Sallisaw Police officer Cody Biles reported on the morning of Oct. 24 he was dispatched to a residence on W. Meadowlark regarding an unresponsive male subject. Two witnesses near the residence reportedly told the officer that they could not wake Derrick Johnson up.
Biles found Johnson in the living room floor and life saving measures were taken in an attempt to save Johnson’s life. Johnson was transported to a local hospital and then transferred to a Fort Smith hospital, where he was declared deceased from an alleged drug overdose of a controlled dangerous substance, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
One of the witnesses told Biles they found Johnson between 8:30 and 9 a.m. and said Johnson had asked to use their vehicle earlier that morning. The witness claimed they went to take a nap and when they woke up, they found Johnson lying in the living room floor unresponsive. The witness then went to a neighboring residence to seek help.
After a search warrant was issued for the residence, police reported finding a used syringe and bent spoon on the bathroom counter. A plastic baggy containing a white residue was also located, along with Johnson’s cell phone, which reportedly contained messages discussing the alleged distribution of controlled dangerous substances with Lawson.
Edwards said there were several messages between the two, allegedly inquiring to purchase narcotics, presumably fentanyl, according to the affidavit. A search warrant was then issued for Lawson’s residence at Motel 6 in Sallisaw.
In Lawson’s motel room, authorities reported finding two shotguns, a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition, plastic bags containing white powder residue, a used syringe with residue, a bent spoon containing a cotton swab and residue, Narcan, cell phones, and documents belonging to Lawson. It was later revealed that the pistol had been stolen in 1981 from a residence in North Carolina.
Tim Turner, with the District 27 Drug Task Force, interviewed Lawson. She told the investigator that she sold one single fentanyl pill to Johnson for $25 at about 8:30 a.m. because she “needed the money.”
According to the probable cause affidavit, more messages found on Johnson’s cell phone between Johnson and Lawson corroborate that Johnson had purchased the fentanyl from Lawson.
Edwards later received a toxicology report from the hospital indicating that Johnson had a high level of fentanyl in his system when he died.
