PARAGOULD, Ark. — Two Paragould residents, Reba Knuckles and Shawn O’Hara, face felony charges after police said a court-authorized search of Charles Bright’s cellphone uncovered separate message threads discussing narcotics sales, customers and distribution.

Felony Charges

Knuckles and O’Hara each face criminal conspiracy, a Class B felony, and unlawful use of a communication device, a Class C felony, according to affidavits released Monday by the Paragould Police Department (PPD). Investigators with the PPD’s VICE unit searched Bright’s cellphone July 23 after obtaining a search warrant, according to probable cause affidavits signed by Investigator Hunter De Sesso.

Bright, 37, was arrested June 30 after police said a traffic stop and subsequent search of his residence led to about 4.6 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, other drugs, firearms and ammunition. His bond was set at $500,000, and as of this report, he’s still in jail.

Investigators said a text thread between Bright and Knuckles discussed alleged narcotics sales and customers. Police also reported finding a photograph of suspected methamphetamine in a bowl on an electronic scale displaying a weight of 26.88 grams.

Messages cited in Knuckles’ affidavit included, “How much for an oz?” and “you got an ounce we might have one sold.” A separate text thread between Bright and O’Hara allegedly discussed narcotics sales, customers and distributing drugs to other people for resale.

Investigators said the messages discussed quantities including “balls,” a term they described as referring to 3.5 grams of a controlled substance, and ounces. In one message cited in the affidavit, O’Hara allegedly wrote, “Hey bro if you want me to I can hold on to more than 58 g.”

District Judge Curtis Hitt found probable cause and issued arrest warrants for Knuckles and O’Hara on July 23. He set bond at $75,000 surety for each. If released, both must wear ankle monitors and are prohibited from possessing weapons.

All suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.