Dermaine Arnett
(DOC file photo)
By Patti Weaver
STILLWATER — A Payne County jury has recommended a 55-year prison term plus a $25,000 fine for a 42-year-old man for trafficking methamphetamine in Stillwater.
Dermaine L. Arnett of Stillwater, who has a 25-year criminal record, remains held in the Payne County Jail pending his Aug. 5 sentencing by Associate District Judge Michael Kulling.
The penalty recommended at Arnett’s trial in June was one of the longest ever handed down by a Payne County jury in a drug case.
Arnett was arrested at 5:07 pm on Sept. 14, 2023, outside a restaurant on N. Boomer Road, according to an affidavit by Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson.
The detective was contacted that day by a confidential informant, who said “Arnett was recently released from prison and was actively selling methamphetamine in the Stillwater community,” his affidavit alleged.
The informant “told me Dermaine was in Tulsa, OK to pick up an amount of drugs to bring back to Stillwater to sell…I am familiar with Dermaine and know he is heavily involved in drug trafficking. Dermaine has been arrested 10 times for possession of CDS (controlled drug substance) with intent to distribute.
“Most recently Dermaine was released from prison on 8/10/2023 for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm. Dermaine is a verified Blood gang member through the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. In the past, Dermaine has been armed when arrested,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
At 4:45 pm on Sept. 14, 2023, “Dermaine contacted the confidential informant and stated he was back in town with methamphetamine and would meet him,” and bring the drug to sell, the affidavit alleged. At 4:49 pm, the defendant texted the informant he was walking and just arrived at the restaurant, where at 5:03 pm, the detective saw the defendant standing in the lobby, his affidavit alleged.
“I exited my patrol car and walked to the door of the (restaurant). I opened the door and told Dermaine to come outside. Dermaine instantly began to sweat, his voice quivered, and I watched as his knees began to quiver, and hands began to shake uncontrollably. At one point it looked as though Dermaine was going to pass out.
“Detective Moore and I had a hold of Dermaine to prevent him from running while I performed a pat down on Dermaine to make sure he did not have weapons. In Dermaine’s right pocket I immediately felt a dispensary container. These containers are solely used to contain marijuana when it is sold from dispensaries.
“I retrieved the container, and it was full of marijuana. Dermaine told me he did not have a medical marijuana card on his person, but it was mailed to his (relative’s) house in Tulsa. Detective Moore removed a large ball of methamphetamine hidden in the belt line of Dermaine’s pants,” that weighed 20.52 grams, the detective alleged in his affidavit.
“Dermaine told me he went to Tulsa to pick up $50 worth of methamphetamine to trade for clothing,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
