On 5-12-2016 at approximately 09:35 AM investigators executed a search warrant at the address of 87 Homestead Ln in rural Gassville AR. This search warrant was the culmination of a joint and lengthy investigation by the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, the Mountain Home Police Department, the Arkansas State Police and 14th Judicial Drug Task Force.               

            Investigators working together had conducted multiple controlled buys from the defendant at the residence. During at least one of these controlled buys video evidence was obtained where the defendant could be seen weighing out methamphetamine in very close proximity of several guns in a bedroom inside the residence. During the search, these guns were found and three of them were loaded with a round in the chamber.  

Also found during the search was a cigarette package that contained 6 plastic bags of a white crystalline substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Five of these bags contained pre weighed out amounts of methamphetamine.  The total weight of the methamphetamine when weighed in the packaging was approximately 9.4 grams with a street value of approximately $1000. Also found in the cigarette package were  pills identified as Acetaminophen and Codeine a schedule II controlled substance,  Alprazolam a schedule IV controlled substance, Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate a schedule II controlled substance, Clonazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance and  Zolpidem Tartrate a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Roger Lyle Benedict, age 58 of Gassville was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

5-64-420 (b) (2) Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to deliver (9.4 Grams) --- Class B Felony

 5-64-443 (a) Drug Paraphernalia (Methamphetamine Pipes) --- Class D Felony

 5-64-432 (b) (1) Possession of a schedule IV Controlled substance with purpose to deliver ---- Class D Felony  -- 3 counts

  5-64-424 (a)(5) Possession schedule II controlled substance with purpose to deliver --- Class C Felony --- 2 Counts

 5-74-106 (b) Weapons Possession During Controlled substance offense --- Class Y Felony

 Benedict was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center and is being held on Bond of $25,000 pending his appearance in Baxter Count Circuit on June 23, 2016.

Sheriff John Montgomery                               Chief Carry Manuel