2nd woman charged in drug probe

More charges were filed last week in an ongoing investigation stemming from the arrest of Donna Faye Reeves, a former Alleghany physicians assistant.

A second Sparta woman, Vicki Parsons Bartlett, 47, was charged with two felony counts in relation to the case, according to warrants filed by Detective Tim Bartlett of the Sparta Police Department.

According to the warrants, Ms. Bartlett is charged with maintaining a vehicle, a silver 2003 Ford Expedition, to keep and sell Oxycontin, a controlled substance. Bartlett is also charged with conspiring with Reeves to sell and deliver Oxycontin. The warrant stipulates that the offense occurred on Dec. 20, 2004 and the warrant was issued on Feb. 15. As for the charge of maintaining a vehicle to keep and sell a controlled substance, Det. Bartlett said the suspect is being charged for transporting Oxycontin — not for selling the drug to an undercover officer.

“We received information during our investigation that led to the arrest of Ms. Bartlett,” Det. Bartlett said. “I contacted her lawyer and had it set up for her to come and turn herself in on Friday (Feb. 18).”

Ms. Bartlett subsequently was released under a $5,000 bond on the date of her arrest, immediately after presenting herself before authorities. Earlier, Reeves was arrested on Dec. 22, 2004 under multiple felony warrants after what Sparta Police detectives described as a lengthy undercover investigation. Information for the case was first uncovered by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), leading to a two-and-a-half month probe into suspected illegal prescription drug activities. The undercover operation revealed the illegal issuance of prescriptions for controlled substances and the sale and delivery of controlled substances, mainly the drug Oxycontin, Det. Lt. Wayne Crouse said earlier.

Reeves, 49, is charged with two counts each of possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver Oxycontin and selling or delivering Oxycontin.

She is also charged with maintaining a vehicle and a residence to keep or sell a controlled substance on Dec. 21, 2004. Listed were Reeves’ home on Hospital Street and her 1997 Ford Expedition. The warrants stated that Reeves used her residence to house Oxycontin.

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