The sentencing for a Wellston attorney who has entered no contest pleas to several felonies has been continued until next month.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 6, 2022 against Debra Dawn Campbell, 59 at the time. They include trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of Controlled Drug with intent to distribute, acquire proceeds from drug activity and possess firearm during commission of a felony.
Campbell recently entered no contest pleas to a modified blind plea. District Judge John Canavan. received her pleas and had scheduled her sentencing for 9 a.m. Aug. 6. On that date, he moved it until until 9 a.m. on Sep. 3.
She pleaded no contest to trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of Controlled Drug with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The state has agreed to dismiss the acquire proceeds from drug activity.
A reported accomplice, Michael Allen Kulp, 40 at the time he was charged in Lincoln County District on Dec. 9, 2022 with five felonies, entered a blind guilty plea to all five and has been handed a state prison sentence.
Judge Canavan found Kulp guilty as charged and on Counts 1 through 5 sentenced him to 30 years in the Department of Corrections with all but the first 15 years suspended.
He also assessed him $100 fines on each count, a $100 VCA on each count and court costs on each charge. He suspended $24,900 of fine on Count 1 and ordered that the sentences are to run concurrent with each other.
Kulp is to pay 991 fees and is to receive credit for time served.
The judge advised Kulp that he it to register on the mandatory methamphetamine registry and he was placed on supervised probation with DOC.
The judge further ordered Kulp to report to the probation office within 10 days of his release and to the Court Clerk’s Office within 180 days of his release.
Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Thompson and Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case and Kim Miller was Kulp’s defense attorney.
In March of 2023, Campbell and Kulp were bound over to stand trial. During their arraignments on April 4 of last year before Special Judge Emily Mueller, Campbell pleaded not guilty. Kulp at that time also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Lincoln County deputies served a search warrant on the attorney’s property and arrested her prior to the formal charges being filed.
A source with the Sheriff’s Office said, “It’s believed they operated in a coordinated effort.”
Count 1 accuses Campbell trafficking in illegal drugs by possessing not less than 20 grams of Methamphetamine, a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
She was charged in Count 2 of unlawful possession of CDS with intent to distribute by possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute.
Count 3 accused her of acquiring proceeds from drug activity by receiving or acquiring proceeds and concealing the proceeds and/or engaging in transactions involving proceeds derived from any violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Act.
In Count 4, she allegedly possessed a rifle while in the commission of a felony, trafficking in illegal drugs and/or unlawful possession of a Controlled Drug with intent to distribute.
In a probable cause affidavit, a Lincoln County investigator states he wrote and was granted a search warrant based on information gained through an ongoing investigation on the residence and property located at 329632 E. Oakview Lane in Wellston in Lincoln County known as Campbell’s residence.
He said on that date other investigators and the Lincoln County Special Operations Team executed the search warrant around 4:40 p.m.
As officers approached the residence and knocked on the door, the investigator said he saw Campbell through a front window. Initially, she refused to come to the front door and disobeyed orders to open the front door, he noted.
Following numerous verbal commands, Campbell reportedly opened the front door and she was removed from the residence. Capt. Chuck Brewer stood by outside the residence with her, the officer stated, while the entry team cleared all buildings on the property and no other people were located on the property at that time.
Investigator Tanner Hand took photographs of the scene prior to the collection of evidence inside and outside.
Hyde further states an extensive search of all the buildings on the property was conducted by officers.
He reported that inside her bedroom officers located multiple scales, glass smoking devices, multiple plastic bags containing what later tested to be methamphetamine and containers with marijuana inside.