MULTIPLE ARRESTS MADE WEDNESDAY ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES

10/10/2019

Gerald Phillip Morris

Kaitlyn Johnston

Dawn Thompson

Howard Johnson

Nathan Schaffer

Katie Stucken
a/k/a Katie Fernandez

Six persons were arrested yesterday, October 9th, when officers from several agencies served search warrants at two separate locations in Baxter County. The search warrants were obtained based upon investigative information of drug activity at those locations.

A search warrant was served at 402 CR 1008 in the rural Mountain Home area. This was the residence of parolee GERALD PHILLIP MORRIS. During the search of this residence officers encountered GERALD MORRIS, KAITLYN JOHNSTON, DAWN THOMPSON, and HOWARD JOHNSON. A search of the premises lead to the discovery of approximately 186.49 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 5 ounces of marijuana, approximately 2.7 grams of Fentanyl, several dosage units of LSD, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia used for packaging methamphetamine for delivery. A loaded handgun was also found during the search, which was in close proximity to the methamphetamine. The four persons at the residence were arrested, taken into custody, and subsequently transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked as follows:

GERALD PHILLIP MORRIS, 38 years old of rural Mountain Home, charged with:

Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance (LSD) with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) - Felonies
Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons - Felony
Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms - Felony
Habitual Offender - Penalty Enhancement

GERALD MORRIS has a bond of $50,000 on these charges and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on October 17th. Records indicate he has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 36 times since 1999 and is on active parole status.

KAITLYN JOHNSTON, 25 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

KAITLYN JOHNSTON has a bond of $50,000 on these charges and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on October 17th. Records indicate she has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 9 times since 2002.

DAWN THOMPSON, 55 years old of rural Mountain Home, charged with:

DAWN THOMPSON has a bond of $50,000 on these charges and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on October 17th. Records indicate she has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 8 times since 1999.

HOWARD JOHNSON, 60 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

HOWARD JOHNSON has a bond of $50,000 on these charges and he also will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on October 17th. Records indicate he has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 48 times since 1997.

The second search warrant was served at 14130 Hwy 5 North in Baxter County. Officers encountered NATHAN SCHAFFER and KATIE LEE STUCKEN a/k/a KATIE FERNANDEZ at this residence, as well as a small child approximately 1-2 years old. During the search of this residence officers found approximately 22 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1 ounce of marijuana, approximately 3.4 grams of Fentanyl, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia used for packaging methamphetamine for delivery. In addition, two loaded handguns and two loaded long guns were found.

There was a small child at the residence who had a play area in one of the rooms. Inside the play area of the child were numerous drugs, including approximately 1.6 grams of powdered Fentanyl, methamphetamine, meth pipes, and also used condoms, and sex toys. Fentanyl was in an open air tray with no cover that was less than 6 feet away from the child's walker and play area. A methamphetamine processing station was found in the child's area as well. SCHAFFER and STUCKEN (FERNANDEZ) were arrested, taken into custody, and transported to the Baxter County Detention center and booked as follows:

NATHAN SCHAFFER, 46 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) - Felonies
Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (4 counts) - Felonies
Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms - Felony
Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree - Felony

SCHAFFER has a bond of $35,000 on these charges and will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on October 17th. Records indicate he has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 11 times since 1997.

KATIE LEE STUCKEN a/k/a KATIE FERNANDEZ, 32 years old of Baxter County, charged with:

Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Schedule Ii Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) with Purpose to Deliver - Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts) - Felonies
Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms (4 counts ) - Felonies
Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree - Felony
Habitual Offender - Penalty Enhancement

STUCKEN has a bond of $35,000 on the charges, and she also will appear before the Circuit Court to answer on October 17th. Records indicate she has been booked into the Baxter County Detention Center a total of 10 times since 2012 and is on parole.

Agencies participating in the execution of the search warrants and subsequent arrests were the Baxter County Sheriff's Office, 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the Mountain Home Police Department.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff