Couple arrested for drunk driving, drug offenses, had kids in car

An early morning traffic stop Wednesday by the Williamsburg Police Department landed two Whitley County residents, who had their children with them, in jail on various traffic and drug offenses.

Officer Mike Taylor charged Twyla Cornett, 29, of Williamsburg, with fourth-offense driving while under the influence, third-offense driving on a suspended license, careless driving, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

The drunk driving and suspended license charges are both class ‘D’ felonies, which are punishable by up to five years in prison.

Taylor also charged her husband, Joseph S. Cornett, 29, of Williamsburg, with permitting an unlicensed operator to operate a motor vehicle, endangering the welfare of a minor, and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Taylor conducted the traffic stop on I-75 about 1:45 a.m. when the driver of a 1996 Ford veered off the road when they saw police turn around to pursue another suspected violator, according to a Williamsburg Police Department press release.

"The driver’s sudden actions attracted officers to check on the safety of the female driver that had exited the vehicle, and acted in a very strange manner," Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said in the release.

"Upon interviewing the driver, Officer Taylor noticed that the female subject had very slurred speech and tried to conceal a substance by handing it over to a passenger. Through an investigation, it was determined that the female driver was highly under the influence of what appeared to be prescription narcotics."

The substance the woman tried to conceal is believed to be Xanax, the release noted.

The couple was arrested without incident and lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

The couple’s two children, who are two years old and three months old, were in the car. Social services were called to the scene and placed the children with their grandmother, the release stated.

Taylor is continuing the investigation. Capt. Eddie Cain and Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Landry Collett assisted at the scene.