Bobby Huel Pastell
Mountain Creek – Just 2 ½ weeks after the second charge of death by distribution against a local man was dropped, a grand jury indicted the suspect on the same offense.
Bobby Huel Pastell, 32, was handed another death by distribution charge Jan. 14, following the Dec. 28, 2024 passing of 35-year-old Peachtree resident Lauren Jane Sams. The first go-around was a July 2021 charge in the March 25, 2021 death of 30-year-old Casey Allen Phillips; the case remained on the books until Oct. 28, 2024, when the District Attorney's office cited an inability to locate key witnesses and dropped the charge.
In the second case, a March 3 judgment from 30th District Court Judge Kaleb Wingate found that no probable cause was found to proceed with the charge.
The charges were reinstated during a grand jury session March 20.
First responders found Sams deceased in a home off Mountain Creek Road in Graham County; preliminary indications were that she died from a lethal ingestion of fentanyl into her system. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration says that just 2 mg of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on a person's body size and tolerance to the substance.
Authorities immediately began researching the circumstances surrounding her death, which led to the Graham County Sheriff's Office executing a search warrant at Pastell's residence. The evidence collected at the scene gave probable cause for assistant district attorney John S. Hindsman, Jr., to greenlight Pastell being charged with death by distribution.
Pastell is alleged to have sold Sams the fentanyl. Other felonies assessed at the time – maintaining a vehicle/dwelling place for a controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/distribute a schedule II controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine – are still pending.
Those charges were tacked on Jan. 14 when authorities discovered four separate bags and one glass vial containing fentanyl and methamphetamine inside Pastell's residence at 114 Fletcher Hooper Road, according to the arrest warrant.
A Class C felony, death by distribution can be assessed to a suspect who is believed to have sold cocaine, methamphetamine or opioids to anyone who passes away from using those substances. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 40 years.
Other indictments
During March 20's grand jury session, the following indictments were also handed down:
* Harvey Lloyd Crisp, 61, possession of stolen goods;
* Makala Haney Crisp, 25, sexual activity with student by school person;
* Rebecca Ann Crisp, 55, possession of stolen goods;
* Avery Scott Phillips, 19, aid and abet an assault with deadly weapon with intent to kill/inflict serious injury.