Stolen valuables found during drug search

Investigators searching a home for drugs Friday discovered many valuable items allegedly stolen from an older Shelbyville couple, a Bedford County investigator said.

Sherry Lynn Pope, 42, and James Everett Ferguson, 45, were arrested at their Richdale Lane home, Detective Sgt. David Sakich of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department said.

A large number of long guns and pistols recovered include a Civil War pistol worth "at least $15,000," and another used by a law enforcement official during the December 1934 riot which resulted in the Bedford County Courthouse being burned, Sakich said.

The guns, gold coins valued at over $10,000, jewelry and a mink coat were allegedly taken since 2007 from a home on Riverbend Country Club Road in which Pope worked as a caretaker, officials said.

Also found, Sakich said, was a "substantial amount of marijuana," bottles of prescription drugs and $25,659.38 in cash.

"The sheriff's department received information that led to an investigation," Sakich said. "Facts obtained led to the arrest of the suspects."

Pope was charged with theft of property over $10,000, possession of schedule IV and VI drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and child abuse/neglect/endangerment. She posted $156,000 bond at Bedford County Jail, records indicate.

Charges of possession of schedule II, III, IV and VI drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, and child abuse/neglect/endangerment were filed against Ferguson, who was released on $201,000 bond.