Confidential informant tip leads to meth bust

Williamsburg police recently arrested Gregory Sokira on a methamphetamine charge.

Williamsburg police seized a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a gun while executing a search warrant late Sunday evening.

Williamsburg Police Sgt. Brandon White arrested Gregory D. Sokira, 46, of 229 Rains Street, about 12:04 a.m. Monday charging him with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance-methamphetamine and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

Police responded to Sokira’s residence Sunday after a confidential informant gave information to police that the informant had allegedly observed five or six small individual baggies with a crystal like substance in it at Sokira’s residence and that Sokira was allegedly trying to sell the illegal substance, according to an affidavit for the search warrant filed by White.

The confidential informant also reported that a woman by the name of Whitney Payne was at the residence at the time, White wrote in the affidavit.

After confirming that Payne had two active warrants for her arrest, White, K-9 Officer Elijah Hunter and Officer David Rowe went to the residence, and located Sokira and Payne inside.

“We observed in plain view a spoon and a cut straw. Inside the cut straw was powder residue. We asked consent to search and Sokira refused after we found the suspected illegal substance,” White wrote in the affidavit.

Police then obtained a search warrant for the residence, which was signed by Whitley District Judge Fred White at 10:49 p.m. Sunday.

Inside Sokira’s safe, police found a small amount of a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine, packs with individual baggies, three black digital scales, a glass pipe with residue, and an unknown type of revolver with the barrel cut, according to the arrest citation.

Sokira was lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt entered a not guilty plea for Sokira during his arraignment Monday in Whitley District Court.

Prewitt scheduled a Dec. 5 preliminary hearing in the case and ordered that Sokira continue to be held in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond.

The arrest citation also noted that Sokira is a convicted felon.

According to Whitley County Circuit Court Clerk computer records, Sokira was indicted in April 2012 for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

He pleaded guilty in August 2012 to an amended charge of first-degree possession of a controlled substance in exchange for an 18-month prison sentence that was conditionally discharged for three years. Sokira was also ordered to pay $130 court costs.

Officers Tim Shelley and Mike Taylor also assisted with Sunday’s investigation.