Deputies seize about three pounds of suspected meth at southern Laurel Co. motel

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies seized about three pounds of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, opium and heroin at a motel in southern Laurel County during an investigation earlier this month, according to a Laurel County Sheriff’s Department release.

Anthony Stebleton and Logan Carpenter were charged with three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl).

Deputies, who were assisted by Kentucky State Police, made the arrests following a drug investigation where they developed information and found Anthony Stebleton at a motel in southern Laurel County allegedly in possession of the suspected methamphetamine, about 40 grams of fentanyl, about 70 dosage units of opium, and about 30 grams of heroin, according to the release.

As the investigation continued, a second suspect, Logan Carpenter, was identified and located in a motor vehicle near a business in London off West Hal Rogers Parkway, where he was allegedly found in possession of approximately three ounces of suspected methamphetamine and 20 grams of suspected fentanyl, the release stated.

“A large amount of U.S. currency was also recovered that the suspect apparently threw out his vehicle window as he attempted to flee from sheriff’s deputies,” said Public Affairs Officer Deputy Gilbert Acciardo.

Deputies arrested Stebleton, 35, of Hickory Hills Drive Nicholasville, and charged him with three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin). The methamphetamine charge was a second offense, according to the sheriff’s department release.

Deputies arrested Carpenter, 31, of Highway 2003, McKee, and charged him with three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl), and second-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle).

Both were lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

Sheriff John Root noted that the “war on drugs” continues in Laurel County.

Acciardo said that the suspects were arrested on Dec. 9, but deputies delayed the release of the information until they completed their follow-up investigation.

Sheriff’s Detective Allen Turner is leading the investigation and was assisted in the Stebleton investigation by Root, Major Chuck Johnson, Lt. Chris Edwards, K-9 Deputy Jake Miller, Detective Taylor McDaniel, Deputy Dustin Saylor and Detective Bryon Lawson.

Officers assisting with the follow-up investigation included: Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Dalrymple, Deputy Landry Collett, Deputy Justin Taylor, Lawson and KSP Detective Ben Graves.