HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One of two people arrested on drug distribution charges was before District Judge Tim Chambers Friday where her attorney informed the court that she is turning down a plea offer from the state.
Twenty-seven-year-old Amy Fisher was arrested with 29-year-old John Paul Zapata-Beltran. Both were charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia all with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school. Other charges include possession of prescription drugs, no drug tax stamp and aggravated endangerment of a child.
Fisher apparently wants a trial, which is now set for Jan. 19.
The case centers on a search of a home in the Careyville neighborhood as well as a Jaguar where drugs and a Taurus 9 mm handgun were allegedly found. The home is within a thousand feet of a Reno County Head Start.
In the master bedroom, they allege that they found green residue wrapped in tin foil and an empty digital scale box. On top of a dryer, officers found two burnt marijuana cigarettes and, inside a bathroom, officers found a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine.
In the trunk of a 2003 Jaguar sitting on a trailer, they allegedly found two backpacks. Inside the orange one, they say they found a small lock box with some prescription drugs, new packaging materials, $10,000 in cash and a Taurus 9 mm handgun with a loaded magazine and two holsters. In the front pocket of the backpack were two digital scales. In the other backpack, they allegedly found more drugs, including 14.5 grams of methamphetamine and several bags of suspected marijuana weighing about 340 grams. There was also testimony at the preliminary hearing that an officer saw one of the kids present in the home who grabbed a bag of meth and put it in their mouth.
The case goes back to May of this year. The case against Zapata-Beltran is still pending a trial as well.