Trial Postponed for Constable Accused of Drug Violations
Posted/updated on: May 25, 2012 at 10:48 am
TYLER — A May court hearing for a Rusk County constable accused of manufacturing and selling illegal drugs was continued. Benjamin Thomas Ferrell, 36, of Henderson was scheduled for a pretrial hearing May 14 in U.S. District Court in Tyler. According to the Longview News-Journal, Ferrell was arrested in March and charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and delivery of a firearm to a felon. He was freed on $10,000 bond after his arraignment on the charges.
Ferrell, who is seeking re-election, represents Precinct. 2, which is Tatum and northeast Rusk County. Richard Parsons, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office, said the indictment against Ferrell “does not impact his candidate status unless or until there is a final felony conviction.”
Ferrell’s wife, Amanda Gayle, faces a state jail felony charge of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Her charge is connected to the federal counts her husband faces, after a joint investigation by Rusk County authorities and the FBI. She, too, was freed on $10,000 bond after being charged.
Ferrell has a continuance until August 13. The judge set a deadline on August 27 to notify the court if there is a plea agreement. A pretrial conference is set on September 5.
