By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A Stillwater couple accused of trafficking fentanyl, possessing a magazine loaded .380 handgun, and failing to protect two young children from drugs have been jailed on $150,000 total bail pending their preliminary hearings in September.
Clarence Dale Mason, 27, held on $100,000 bail, and his girlfriend, Hunter Reann Nicole Dunagan, 20, held on $50,000 bail, could each be given two life prison terms plus 30 years and $260,000 in fines if convicted of a four-count charge.
The couple were arrested at their apartment at 10:09 am on June 15, according to an affidavit by Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson, who had been contacted by the Department of Human Services to aid in a joint response.
A DHS social worker “told me they referred a referral stating Clarence Mason was selling drugs from the home and two children were inside. I am familiar with Clarence and know he is heavily involved in drug sales,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
When the DHS worker knocked, “The door was answered by Hunter Dunagan. I observed two small children inside, approximately four and two years of age,” the detective wrote in his affidavit.
“I asked Hunter if Clarence was in the house. Hunter walked into the bedroom and shut the door. I could hear shuffling around and knocked on the door. As we walked into the room, I observed two 2×2 baggies on the floor near the closet. Clarence was asked if there were any drugs in the house. Clarence stated there was not and granted us consent to search the house.
“I immediately walked into the closet and observed tin foil used for hot railing fentanyl pills. ‘Hot rails’ are used to ingest fentanyl by placing a pill on top of the foil and applying heat to the underside. The fumes coming off the foil are inhaled through a straw. This is the most common way of ingesting fentanyl pills.
“I continued my search and found prepackaged blue M30 fentanyl pills. I immediately recognized these pills by their color and imprint. I have handled these pills numerous times and they are plaguing the community of Stillwater. I also found numerous new 2×2 baggies along with a drug ledger containing names of customers being served.
“It should be noted most of the drugs and paraphernalia were located on top of a small sock drawer in the closet or in the drawers,” very accessible to children. I also found 2×2 baggies with residue on the bedroom floor and under the bed,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
“Hunter stated Clarence was selling fentanyl pills to help her with bills. Hunter stated she recently began smoking fentanyl pills. While DHS was speaking with her, Hunter told them Clarence had a gun in their bedroom and showed me where it was. The gun was a Smith and Wesson .380 that was magazine loaded.
“I asked Hunter if there was anything in the kids’ bedroom I needed to worry about, and she granted me permission to check the entire house. I opened up the kids’ bathroom door and found a male on the toilet,” who had been hiding there for 20 minutes and was arrested for failure to appear in court on a misdemeanor drug charge, the detective alleged in his affidavit.
“As we were waiting for transport, DHS was able to secure custody of the children. Hunter stated Clarence began selling fentanyl pills to pay bills approximately three months ago. Hunter stated she recently began smoking the pills and uses fentanyl when she gets home from work and after she puts the kids to bed,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.
