Late on June 24, 2023, a Hopkins County Sheriff's Office Texas Deputy conducted a routine traffic stop in the vicinity of a designated stopping point at an intersection. The driver of the vehicle had failed to stop appropriately, prompting the intervention. However, what initially seemed like a routine traffic violation soon turned into a drug-related incident.
Upon making contact with the occupants on the passenger side, the deputy noticed suspicious behavior, with both individuals appearing anxious and looking around inside the vehicle. Sensing something amiss, the deputy suspected the presence of contraband and confronted the passenger, who displayed signs of deception and withheld information. Seeking to ascertain the truth, the deputy requested consent to search the vehicle, which the driver willingly granted.
During the ensuing search, deputies discovered a clear glass pipe, commonly used for smoking methamphetamine, concealed within a lunchbox cooler wrapped in a rag. The search continued, leading to the discovery of a clear baggie containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. This baggie was found underneath the seat cover for the driver's seat. Both occupants of the vehicle were apprised of their rights, including the Miranda Warning, and they denied ownership of the illicit substances.
Without further incident, law enforcement officers arrested both individuals and transported them to the Hopkins County Jail. Subsequent testing confirmed that the crystal-like substance found in the vehicle was indeed methamphetamine, weighing approximately 2.16 grams, including the packaging. Of particular concern was the proximity of the traffic stop to His Kids Learning Center, situated just 730 feet away, within a designated Drug-Free Zone.
Johnney Givan, a 54-year-old resident of Mabank, was charged with the possession of a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine, weighing between 1 and 4 grams, within a Drug-Free Zone. Likewise, Shelly Townsend, a 57-year-old resident of Gun Barrel City, faced the same charge.
