November 22nd, 2019
By Jared Atha
Two people have been sentenced while a third still has a warrant out for his arrest in Beckham County.
According to court records 37-year-old James Brent Hargrove of Elk City, and 35-year-old Jennifer Hannan of Cordell both plead guilty to charges stemming from their arrest last Christmas Eve in Elk City.
According to an Elk City police report at the time of their arrests, an on-duty officer observed a pickup turn west-bound down a dead-end street surrounded by closed businesses. The pickup then asked the officer for directions and when it pulled away, the non-illuminating center mounted brake lamp was observed to be malfunctioning.
The driver, Hannah, couldn’t provide a driver’s license nor insurance papers and then stated the vehicle belonged to someone else.
Police noted in the report that he could detect an odor of burnt marijuana and additionally noticed a small corner of a plastic baggie which appeared to be melted. At the same time, a front seat passenger began to dig around and move excessively, finally appearing to hide something in his lap with a jacket on top. Eventually, the passenger, 42-year-old Jason Canterberry of Nichols Hills handed police a loaded pistol magazine.
Allegedly found in Canterberry’s pocket was a Red Seal snuff that held small zip lock style baggies containing suspected methamphetamine.
During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly found a number of baggies containing more meth as well as a 9 mm Beretta pistol, a grinder, four used syringes and a small plastic baggie on the rear bumper that contained what later tested positive for heroin.
A follow-up search allegedly located syringes, a spoon and a plastic box with more meth and a set of digital scales. The combined weight of the suspected meth, which later tested positive, weighed 22.5 grams.
Hannah, Canterberry and Hargrove were arrested for trafficking drugs. A fourth man, 29-year-old Andrew Gillian of Elk City was arrested on local warrants.
A judge had dropped the trafficking charge against Hargrove, however he was sentenced to serve one year in jail for charges including possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing an officer.
Hannan was sentenced to a 5 year prison term after pleading guilty to the charge of trafficking illegal drugs.
Canterberry failed to appear to his scheduled preliminary hearing in May. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. He has yet to be apprehended.