Grand jury indicts five residents on drug charges

Five Franklin County residents arrested on meth-related charges at the end of January were recently indicted by a Franklin County grand jury, officials said.
Kristi Blackburn, 37, 898 Franklin 80, Russellville, was indicted for second-degree attempt to manufacture a controlled substance; Rhonda Gail Patton, 29, 1668 West Lawrence St., Russellville, was indicted for trafficking in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; Rodger Patton, 56, 1668 West Limestone St., Russellville, was indicted for trafficking in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia; Denise Miller, 40, 1984 Franklin 81, Phil Campbell, was indicted for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Jonathan Kent, 40, 2024 Franklin 81, Phil Campbell, was indicted for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.
According to reports, the arrest stemmed from the efforts of local law enforcement agencies cracking down on the drug problem in the area.
According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, investigators received information and complaints in January stating that several people were selling methamphetamine on County Line Road.
Oliver said investigators with the Franklin County Multi-Jurisdiction Drug Unit obtained enough information for a search warrant and during the course of the investigation, officers found 30 grams of meth at the County Line Road residence on Jan. 28 that would have had a street value of $3,000.
Oliver said drug paraphernalia was also found at the residence.
Rushing said all five defendants’ cases would be set for arraignment on June 28.