Pubdate: Thu, 18 Aug 2005
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: 2005 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Author: Donna Hales
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

CHEROKEE CO. DEPUTY, JAILER CHARGED

More Drug-Related Charges May Be Filed Against The Pair Today

A Cherokee County sheriff's deputy and a jailer on paid leave since Friday 
were charged Wednesday with misdemeanor and/or felony drug-related charges.

Both employees will be dismissed from duty today, Sheriff Norman Fisher said.

Deputy Dusty Glyn Ryals, 21, of Tahlequah was charged with felony 
possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and two 
misdemeanors, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jailer Lynn McClain Trammel, 20, is charged with misdemeanor possession of 
drug paraphernalia consisting of two plastic "snorting" pipes.

There may be some additional charges today, according to District Attorney 
Richard Gray, chief prosecutor in Cherokee, Adair, Sequoyah and Wagoner 
counties. Gray said Ryals and Trammel have until 10 a.m. today to turn 
themselves in at the sheriff's office.

The deputy and the jailer admitted to District Attorney Investigator Clint 
Johnson and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Vicky M. 
Lyons they had smoked methamphetamine, according to a Wednesday affidavit 
provided by Lyons that Gray filed in the criminal case.

An investigation began last week after Johnson developed evidence and 
witness statements that Trammel and Ryals were introducing methamphetamine 
into the Cherokee County Jail for use by inmates, the affidavit states.

"They admitted to the OSBI agent and Clint Johnson they had smoked 
methamphetamine," Fisher said, referring to the OSBI affidavit.

Some of the marijuana found in Ryals' room bore evidence labels. Ryals said 
the suspected marijuana was evidence that he took home with him at the 
direction of a supervisor because they were unable to secure the evidence 
at the sheriff's office at that time. Another Copenhagen can containing 
marijuana found in the home was not evidence, Fisher said.

The OSBI affidavit states Ryals admitted using methamphetamine he alleged 
he had obtained from a jail trustee and continued to deny he took the drug 
to jail inmates.

Trammel told both Lyons and Johnson that he had obtained the 
methamphetamine he had smoked earlier from Ryals, who he alleged obtained 
it from a jail trustee, the affidavit states.

Trammel, too, continued to deny involvement in drug trafficking at the jail 
but admitted that "everyone knew" that drug use was going on in the jail, 
the affidavit states.

Ryals has been a deputy since Fisher took office in January. Trammel has 
been a jailer for about five weeks, Fisher said.

"Right is right and wrong is wrong," Fisher said. "Just because you wear 
the badge doesn't mean you have the right to break the laws.

"It's an unfortunate incident that won't be tolerated in my administration. 
. I just want the people to know that whatever is right is what we're 
going to do."
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