McALESTER — Charges were recently dismissed for two men who were charged in a 19-person methamphetamine-ring bust in Pittsburg County.

Multiple felony counts of unlawful purchase of pseudoephedrine after a controlled dangerous substance charge or conviction were dismissed at the end of January for Sheridan Sexton Jr., 34, of McAlester, and Bobby Dewayne Justice Jr., 27, of McAlester.

Charges were also dismissed previously for nine others facing similar charges in the alleged methamphetamine-ring.

Assistant District 18 District Attorney Wesley Cherry explained the reason for the dismissals. “There is a new court of criminal appeals case that says the penalty for the crime they were charged with is unconstitutional,” Cherry said. Cherry explained that it is illegal for anyone to purchase more than 7.2 grams of pseudoephedrine in a month. “If more than that amount is purchased, it is automatically assumed that the purpose is to manufacture meth,” Cherry said.

It is also illegal for a person who has previously been convicted of a methamphetamine-related crime to purchase any amount of pseudoephedrine, Cherry explained. However, there is a stipulation on that law. The accused would have had to be convicted of the methamphetamine-related crime after Nov. 1, 2010, Cherry said, and would also have had to sign a form indicating he/she understands that he/she would no longer be allowed to purchase pseudoephedrine.

Cherry said the charges against some of the people in this case were dismissed because they did not meet the criteria for which they could be charged with a crime related to purchasing or possessing pseudoephedrine. Charges were also dismissed for:

• Donald Joe Zukosky, 44, of Haileyville;

• Marcus Delanzo Weaver, 39, of McAlester;

• Tiffany Kay Markland, 24, of McAlester;

• Lindsey Diann Kerns, 29, of McAlester;

• Terry Dale Hill, 49, of Hartshorne;

• Janice Elaine Benson, 49, of McAlester;

• Jerry Don Barnes, 46, of McAlester;

• Karolyn Renee Lebaron, 28, of McAlester; and

• Shon Wayne Skidmore, 43, of McAlester.

Melanie Dawn Leffler, 40, of McAlester, was charged in December along with the 19 others in an alleged methamphetamine manufacturing bust. Leffler was charged Dec. 13 with 13 felony counts of unlawful possession of pseudoephedrine after a possession of a controlled dangerous substance charge. On Jan. 14, those 13 counts were dismissed.

In another case, Leffler is still facing charges of manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) and misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charges against the 19 people originally arose from a joint federal and local investigation.

Prior to the dismissals, two Savanna residents pleaded no contest to charges filed against them.

Janet Gaynell Crawley, 52, of Savanna, and Stephanie G. Crawley, 29, of Savanna, both pleaded no contest Dec. 21 to charges connecting them to the meth-ring.

Janet Crawley was fined $102,200, with $98,000 suspended. Stephanie Crawley was fined $51,365, with $49,000 suspended. Both women received 10-year suspended sentences. They were convicted of methamphetamine manufacturing related charges. At the end of January, Janet Crawley told the News-Capital that she was innocent of the charges she has been convicted.

“The charges were so outrageous,” Janet Crawley said. There was no lab ever in my house.” Janet Crawley said she pleaded no contest and accepted being a convicted felon so she could get home to her grandchildren before Christmas. “It wasn’t a matter of guilty or not guilty,” Janet Crawley said. “It was a matter of getting home to my grandkids for Christmas ... If I had to plead guilty to murder I would have, as long as I could be home with my grandkids at Christmas.”

Janet Crawley said she was never involved in a meth-ring and, although she has now been convicted, she is not guilty of those charges. “They found a joint, I’ll admit to that,” Janet Crawley said. “My husband is going through chemo and that helps him. But they didn’t find meth or a meth lab. (The police) know exactly what they’ve done. They could have waited until the kids were at school and they could have waited until after Christmas.”

Janet Crawley, and her daughter, Stephanie Crawley, were manufacturing methamphetamine in their home, where two children, ages 9 and 10, lived with them. Janet Crawley’s husband allegedly manufactured methamphetamine along with his wife and daughter and is still facing charges in the case.

“There’s so much I can’t say because my husband’s case is still pending,” Janet Crawley said.

Two of the 19 were federally indicted and the other 17 were charged with various drug-related felonies in Pittsburg County District Court.

Federally indicted are:

• Shila Ann Parker, 32, of McAlester, and

• Larry Eugene Pirpich Jr., 53, of McAlester.

Still facing charges in connection to the meth-ring in Pittsburg County District Court are:

• Allen Ray Crawley, 59, of Savanna;

• George Ward Schnexnaider, 51, of Savanna; and

• Sharol Jean Martin, 53, of McAlester.

Investigating the case were the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Bureau of Indian Affairs, McAlester Police Department, Oklahoma District Attorney District 18 Drug Task Force, Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, Krebs Police Department, Stillwater Police Department, Shawnee Police Department, Tulsa Police Department, Broken Arrow Police Department, Kiowa Police Department, Lamar County Texas Sheriff’s Office and the Sherman, Texas, Police Department.

The federal indictment alleges that from January 2010 to July 2012, Parker and Pirpich conspired with one another to possess and distribute a pseudoephedrine, knowing the pseudoephedrine would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.

“While residing in McAlester ... Parker and Pirpich would purchase Pseudoephedrine from locations within Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere,” a press release from the U.S Attorney’s office — EDOK. “Parker and Pirpich possessed Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Ohio state identification which enabled them to make Pseudoephedrine purchases in multiple states. The Defendants were aware of the Pseudoephedrine purchase limits in Oklahoma and would travel to other states to make Pseudoephedrine purchases when their purchase limits had been met in Oklahoma.”

The press release alleges Parker and Pirpich purchased more than 9 grams of Pseudoephedrine in a single day. “During the course of the conspiracy, Parker individually purchased 1.14 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine and Pirpich individually purchased 1.82 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine,” the press release alleges. “At times throughout the conspiracy, Parker and Pirpich would steal, attempt to steal or purchase items utilized in the manufacture of methamphetamine, in addition to Pseudoephedrine, such as lithium batteries, camp fuel, denatured alcohol, and acetone.”

Parker was arraigned Dec. 13 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee. She is being charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, used to manufacture methamphetamine, and nine counts of interstate travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises. Parker is currently in custody with the U.S Marshal Service pending a Feb. 5 jury trial.

Pirpich, Parker’s co-defendant is facing the same federal felony charges as Parker and was set to be arraigned on Jan. 16.

Allen Crawley is due back in court Feb. 13, Schnexnaider is due back in court Feb. 12 and Leffler was due back in court Feb. 4 on her manufacturing case.

An arrest warrants has been issued for Martin.



Contact Rachel Petersen at rpetersen@mcalesternews.com.

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