Stolen valuables found during drug search

Saturday, October 18, 2008
By David Melson

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.

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on t-g.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

Who in the world would go on a bond that high?!?! That's nearly $400,000!!! But, I guess when you have over $25,000 just laying around the house you can afford it, huh? Guess crime does pay after all.

-- Posted by jtjustice30 on Mon, Oct 20, 2008, at 8:21 PM

I know both people very well. In all honesty i never in a million years would expect this from them. I just pray that they'll get on the right track.

-- Posted by graduating class on Mon, Oct 20, 2008, at 10:29 PM