Couple sentenced for crackhouse

A Lind Street couple were both given eight-year sentences for operating a crackhouse just a stone?s throw away from downtown McMinnville.

The defendants, Thomas R. Hart and Jennifer L. Parson, entered guilty pleas to the charge of maintaining a dwelling for the trafficking of illegal drugs and possession of marijuana.

Hart will be required to serve 354 days of his eight-year sentence while Parson will serve 150 days of her eight-year term. They will both be required to pay $2,000 drug fines and perform 40 hours public service work.

Their sentences come after they were caught in an undercover drug-buying operation where the operative bought crack cocaine at their home on Lind Street. While there, the group discussed how the cocaine was being made into crack cocaine form. The conversation was caught on tape as lawmen were listening in as part of the drug-buying operation.

Lawmen said a test-tube where the crack was mixed along with baggies for individual bagging of the crack were found during a subsequent raid. Also found were five marijuana plants, accounting for the marijuana charges against the couple.

Lawmen did not contend the couple participated in the drug deal or even profited from the illegal act. Police say another man sold the crack to the operative. However, police say the couple were aware of the drug deal and allowed it to happen at their house.