Tyrel Shane Helton, 39, on parole when arrested during a traffic stop, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and fentanyl pleaded guilty in Cumberland County Criminal Court Tuesday and received an eight-year-plus prison sentence.
In an unrelated case, Herbert Mitchell Jones, 63, charged with possession of meth with intent and possession of meth while driving, pleaded guilty to possession of more than .5 grams of meth for sale and/or delivery and received a 25-year sentence to serve at 35% as a Range II offender.
Helton received what is called a hybrid sentence. On the meth charge, Helton is to serve the eight-year sentence at 30% as a Range 1 offender. On the fentanyl charge, Helton is to serve another eight-year sentence at 35% as a Range II offender and consecutive to the balance of a four-year sentence for a previous meth conviction.
The charges stem from a June 23, 2023, traffic stop by Cumberland County Sheriff’s Investigator Jon Wirey and other deputies. Because Helton was out of custody on parole, he was subject to random searches.
That search resulted in the discovery of a quantity of meth and fentanyl/ANPP.
In the Jones case, a traffic stop and search of the Cadillac Jones was traveling in on March 6, 2023, resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of meth. The search was allowed because Jones was on probation at the time.
The 25-year sentence is to be served concurrently with a Putnam County sentence and all property seized during the arrest was forfeited. Jones is being given credit for 362 days already served in jail.
In other cases on the docket, the following guilty pleas were entered:
•Cameron Lee Caughron, 32, charged with DUI, per se, pleaded guilty to an information charging aggravated reckless driving and is to serve 48 hours in jail followed by supervised probation for 11 months 24 days with credit for five days already served in jail. The DUI charge was dismissed. Caughron was arrested for DUI on May 5, 2018, by THP Trooper William Morgan.
•Willie Ashton Glen Dyal, 33, pleaded guilty to an information charging introducing contraband (heroin) into a penal institution on July 21 and received a four-year sentence to serve as a Range 1 offender with credit for 44 days already served in jail.
Dyal was being booked on an unrelated charge when a substance corrections officers identified as heroin was found on his person.
•Raylee Kay Hawkins, 21, pleaded guilty to an information charging attempt to possess more than .5 grams of cocaine for sale and/or delivery and was granted judicial diversion for a six-year supervised probationary period. If probation is successful, Hawkins will be eligible to petition the court at a later date to have the charge removed from her record.
The charge stems from an Aug. 15 traffic stop by CCSO deputies.
•Thomas Ernest Vaughn, 61, pleaded guilty to an information charging aggravated assault occurring on Aug. 12 during which a double-edged ax was displayed in a threatening manner and received a three-year suspended sentence to be served on supervised probation. Vaughn is a Range 1 offender with sentence to be served at 30% with credit for 22 days served in jail. The victim was in agreement with the plea, according to Assistant District Attorney Rachel Bateman.
•David Jack Williams, 48, pleaded guilty to an information charging theft of property of more than $2,500 and received a three-year suspended sentence as a Range 1 offender at 30% with credit for 18 days already served.
The charge stems from possession of a utility trailer stolen in Knox County and recovered Feb. 13 at a residence in Daysville.