A Lee County man and woman were arrested July 24 on various drug and other charges including child abuse for allegedly selling fentanyl while two children were present in a vehicle during a drug deal.
Dirrell Lamon McAuley, 36, and Casey Elizabeth Blackburn, 32, were both held on $30,000 secured bonds.
According to a release from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, agents investigated a hotel on Horner Boulevard after a traffic stop on Dalrymple Street. In the latter, agents allegedly found fentanyl packaged for sale along with digital scales and other drug paraphernalia. The couple’s two children, ages 5 and 7, were present in the vehicle.
McAuley and Blackburn, of the 500 block of Bruce Coggins Road, southeast of Tramway, each face five drug-related charges and two counts each of misdemeanor child abuse. They allegedly sold fentanyl to Michael Blystone.
McAuley was also charged with driving with a revoked license and tag.
McAuley, who has a lengthy criminal record, was sentenced May 7 for possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from April 2. A felony charge of drug possession was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. He was given five days in jail and ordered to pay $323 in fines and fees.
His probation was revoked May 13 for a misdemeanor larceny conviction stemming from March 10 when a felony charge of obtaining property by false pretense was dismissed. He was given 45 days in jail in that case.
Blackburn was convicted of misdemeanor larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from May 2, 2023. A felony cocaine possession charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
She was given 45 days in jail and fines and fees of $84, which she paid.
She was convicted of two misdemeanor probation violations in 2023 and 2024, the latter of which resulted in 30 days in jail.
Blackburn also faces several charges in Moore County stemming from March 20, including maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance and carrying a concealed gun, a purple 9 mm SCCY CPX-2.
She was cited by Deputy C.A. Sheffield at 12:04 a.m. on Mt. Carmel Road in Robbins while driving a 2014 Nissan Altima and has a court date set for Sept. 18, according to eCourts.