HOT SPRINGS -- One of the first of 49 suspects arrested last month in a drug-trafficking sting by federal, state and Garland County law enforcement officers has pleaded guilty to four felony charges in Garland County Circuit Court.
Chrystyn Muse Thomas, 59, of Hot Springs pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, delivery of methamphetamine, and maintaining a drug premises. Prosecutors withdrew a more serious count of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Thomas, who had no prior felony convictions, was sentenced to 10 years' probation on each count, to run concurrently; fined $1,500 on each count, for a total of $6,000; and ordered to pay $840 in court costs.
Deputy prosecutor Trent Daniels said that Thomas was offered probation based on her having no criminal history before her first arrest July 7. Prosecutors also considered her age and poor health, which would likely have meant she would be transferred to a community punishment facility or even hospitalized for the duration of her sentence.
"This way we can keep tabs on her," Daniels said, noting that if she violates the conditions of her probation during the next 10 years it could be revoked and she could face up to 100 years in prison. "I think that will deter her from further activities."
Daniels also noted that after Thomas was arrested, her property was seized and she was barred from her residence at 113 Shuttle St., which was still in effect pending further hearings in civil court.
"People in her neighborhood were concerned that she might be coming back, but she won't be anytime soon," he said.
Daniels said several of the suspects arrested in the operation have since been transferred into federal custody, but their cases are still pending.
According to the affidavit for Thomas' first arrest, shortly after 6 a.m. July 7, investigators with the Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police, Garland County sheriff's office and Hot Springs Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at her Shuttle Street residence. The sheriff's office's Tactical Response Team made entry and cleared the residence, detaining two people.
Investigators located a plastic container in the master bedroom containing five bags of approximately 11.1 grams of methamphetamine, digital and manual scales, small plastic bags, a glass smoking device, two cut straws, a loaded .22-caliber handgun, a spoon with suspected methamphetamine residue, multiple used syringes and ammunition. Documents belonging to Thomas were also located in the bedroom.
Thomas was spotted in a vehicle with another person turning onto Shuttle Street at 6:30 a.m. Officers said Thomas attempted to drive away after seeing them. The vehicle was stopped, and Thomas was told that a search warrant was being executed on her residence.
Thomas admitted she had a plastic tub matching the description of the one found in the master bedroom, according to a report. She also admitted that she had cash inside her bedroom under a small desk and a handgun on the bed that she uses for protection, police said.
She was arrested at that time on multiple charges and later released on $10,000 bond. She was arrested again Oct. 11 and had been held without bail since then.
According to the affidavit on her second arrest, between May 10 and Sept. 25, the Drug Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security used a confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Thomas at her residence at Shuttle Street. The amount purchased was 2 grams, which tested positive for methamphetamine.
Metro on 11/25/2016