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District Judge Sentences Three Meth Traffickers Following Investigation by Local Authorities


January 29, 2021 Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces the sentencing of three individuals for their involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking ring that operated in Ashe, Watauga and Caldwell counties and was investigated, in part, by detectives from the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office. On Thursday, January 28, 2021 U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell handed down sentences ranging from 120 to 144 months to the following defendants: Christy Lee Latham, 43, of West Jefferson, N.C. Lathem was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Latham pleaded guilty to methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Latham’s sentence was enhanced due to her violation of her conditions of supervised release for a prior federal methamphetamine trafficking conviction.

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Suspect Arrested Following Shooting that Left One Man Dead in Ashe County Saturday Evening


January 4, 2021 Ashe County Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces the arrest of a Reginald Steve Elledge for the shooting death of Leonicio Ramos Guerrero in the Fleetwood area. At approximately 7:40 P.M. on Saturday, January 2, Ashe County 911 Dispatch received a call advising that an adult male had just shot another adult male at a home in the 400 block of Little Gap Road. The caller advised telecommunicators that the suspect shot the victim and fled the scene in a white Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Law enforcement officers were given a description of the suspect’s vehicle. West Jefferson Police Officer Mike Miller observed a vehicle matching the description pull into the parking lot of Lowe’s hardware in West Jefferson where Miller was able to stop the vehicle and take Elledge into custody without incident.

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Ashe County Man Arrested Following Early Morning Shooting on Tuesday


October 14, 2020  Sheriff B. Phil Howell announces the arrest of a suspect in connection with a domestic-related shooting in the Laurel Springs area of Ashe County. At approximately 1:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, Ashe County 911 Dispatch received a call from Ashe Memorial Hospital requesting assistance with a possible gunshot wound victim in their Emergency Department. Sgt. Chris Green and Deputy Scott Milam, both of the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office, responded to Ashe Memorial Hospital wherein they met with the adult victim. The victim advised the deputies that they had driven themselves to the hospital after having been shot by the suspect during an argument at their home in the Peak Creek Community. The suspect who is identified as James Ethan Dunnagan was subsequently detained without incident by deputies. Dunnagan was transported to the Ashe County Sheriff’s Office where he was interviewed by Special Victims Detective Jennifer DeSpain and charged.

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