(Stillwater, Okla.) — A felony charge of endeavoring to manufacture methamphetamine has been dropped by the prosecution against a Cushing woman, who admitted only to possessing drug paraphernalia, court records show today. La Verna Lee Christians, 44, and her boyfriend, Charles Vance Shipman, 43, of Drumright, were arrested two days after Christmas last year for their alleged endeavor to manufacture methamphetamine at her residence.
After the prosecution dismissed the felony charge against her on Oct. 24, Christians pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia for which she was fined $250, court records show.
The prosecution had already dismissed the felony charge against Shipman on Oct. 3, just days before he was scheduled to have a jury trial, court records show.
As part of a plea bargain, Shipman admitted only to possessing drug paraphernalia for which he was given a one-year jail term — with credit for time served.
When Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Myers along with deputies served a search warrant at Christians’ residence, she opened the door and Shipman was in the living room, an affidavit said.
Outside in a toilet, deputies found a yellow bag containing a peeled lithium battery and two used 12-hour pseudoephedrine blister packs, Myers’ affidavit alleged.
Also found was a camouflage backpack containing items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, the affidavit alleged.
Drug paraphernalia was located in the house, the affidavit said.
“In the nightstand next to the bed was a piece of mail in the name of La Verna Christians and a purple notebook that was a drug ledger for prescription pills,” the affidavit alleged.
“In the northeast bedroom in the closet, I located an opened syringes bag containing eight syringes,” Myers wrote in his affidavit.
“In the dining room trash can, I located a used syringe and small snort straw,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“Charles denied all items. He did admit that he and La Verna are boyfriend and girlfriend and share the southeast bedroom,” the affidavit said.
“He advised there are several people that come and go out of the back yard, yet there is a pipe that is across the gate and it can only be opened from the inside — and the gate has not been opened for some time,” Myers alleged in his affidavit.
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