Law enforcement officers seized over 12 ounces of methamphetamine, marijuana, a large sum of U.S. currency and drug paraphernalia from a Corbin home while executing a search warrant last Wednesday (May 14), and federal charges are possible in conjunction with the investigation. Also, two minor children resided at the residence, which was found to have deplorable living conditions, according to a news release from multiple law enforcement agencies.
The Corbin Police Department with assistance from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement Special Investigations (DESI), and in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) executed a search warrant on May 14 at a residence at South KY-1629 in the Corbin area of Knox County where over half a pound of methamphetamine was seized as evidence, the releases stated.
The search warrant stemmed from a joint drug investigation following an undercover operation initiated by Corbin Patrolman First Class Chris Brown, Patrolman Jarrett Car and narcotics detectives with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department.
During a prior investigation “pending on the accused,” police located over one pound of methamphetamine, according to the releases.
Corbin police have arrested two people in connection with the case.
George D. Jessee, 51, and Ashley Engle, 38, both of S. KY-1629 in the Knox County portion of Corbin, pled not guilty to their charges during their arraignments Thursday in Knox District Court. (Editor’s note: the releases list Engle’s name as Ashley “Engle” Jesse or Jessee, but Knox District Court records indicate that her last name is Engle.)
George Jessee, whose last name is also spelled Jesse in a release, is charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (over two grams of methamphetamine), endangering the welfare of a minor, drug paraphernalia, operating on a suspended/revoked operator’s license, and two counts of first-degree criminal abuse (child 12 or under).
Engle is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (over two grams of methamphetamine), tampering with physical evidence, drug paraphernalia, two counts of first-degree criminal abuse (child 12 or under) and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
George Jessee is being held in the Knox County Detention Center in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond. If he posts bond, he will be required to be on home incarceration. Engle is being held in the Knox County Detention Center in lieu of a $10,000 cash bond, according to the detention center’s website.
As of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, the pair were still incarcerated there, according to the Knox County Detention Center’s website.
According to an arrest citation, Jessee and Engle are married.
Prior to the execution of the search warrant, police observed George Jessee leave the residence in a gray Honda Accord. Officers were already aware that Jessee did not possess a valid operator’s license and conducted a traffic stop where he was taken into custody, according to his arrest citation.
After ATF Special Agent Todd Tremaine read Jessee his constitutional rights, Jessee allegedly reported that more methamphetamine was in his residence, according to an arrest citation.
Knox County officials with the Department of Community-Based Services found placement for the two minor children, a citation stated.
“DEA is adopting this case for possible prosecution federally,” the releases noted.
Engle was also served with an outstanding bench warrant out of Laurel County District Court for neglect action, according to the releases.
Brown is the case officer for the Corbin Police Department and Detective Gary Jordan is the case officer for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Corbin Police Chief Rusty Hedrick and Laurel County Sheriff John Root report success because of a group effort, and report that drug investigations will continue with support and cooperation of surrounding agencies in Corbin and the Laurel County area.
Corbin Police Sgt. Jeff Hill and K-9 Corporal Estes Rhodes along with K-9 Jazz assisted with the investigation along with Laurel County Sheriff’s narcotics detectives.
